damnation of the sinful Muslims in the Fire—and the Murjiʾa, who deny certain threats altogether and overlook the distinction Allah has conferred upon the righteous over the wicked.

They are equally moderate with regard to the Companions of Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), steering a course between the extremists who attribute to some of them divinity, prophethood, or absolute impeccability, and the harsh critics who declare some of them unbelievers or transgressors. The Companions, after all, are the finest of this community.