Whoever travels this path finds his journey of hijrah set straight, his knowledge and deeds set right, and the faces of truth turn toward him from every direction (1).

What is astonishing is that someone should claim to possess this precedence and perfect love while he (2) spends his striving, diligence, and tireless effort on the statements of others—busy compiling and defending them, flaring up in anger and partisan zeal (3) for them, approving of them, taking his disputes to them, and then weighing what the Messenger (4) said against them. If his words agree with theirs, he accepts them; but if they differ, he looks for every stratagem, exerting himself to reject them by distortion and aversion—just as the Exalted says: “And if you distort or turn away, Allah is fully aware of what you do” ⦗4:135⦘ (5).

This verse contains tremendous secrets; we shall draw attention to some of them because of our pressing need for them (6).

The Exalted says: “O you who believe! Be steadfast in equity, witnesses for Allah, even against yourselves, your parents, or close relatives. Whether the person is rich or poor, Allah has a greater right over them both. So do not follow desire, lest you deviate; and if you distort or turn away, Allah is ever Aware of what you do.” ⦗4:135⦘ (7).