they are in themselves a proof against them, exactly as has been shown time and again in refuting the innovators, the followers of caprice, and others who nevertheless belong to the community that faces the qiblah.

For the most part, what these people possess is nothing but ambiguous phrases. They latch on to what they imagine those words imply while turning away from the precise, explicit, and clarifying expressions—doing all of that under the sway of their own passions.

Such is the state of the ahl al-batin (the esotericists), as the Exalted says:

“They follow nothing but conjecture and the desires of their souls, although guidance has already come to them from their Lord.” ⦗An-Najm 53:23⦘

Thus they remain in ignorance and injustice, as He, exalted be He, says:

“Man undertook it—indeed, he has always been deeply unjust, profoundly ignorant—so that Allah may punish the hypocrite men and women and the polytheist men and women, and so that Allah may turn in mercy to the believing men and women; and Allah is ever All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” ⦗Al-Ahzab 33:72-73⦘

The believers to whom Allah has granted repentance from ignorance and wrongdoing are the followers of the prophets, peace be upon them, for the prophets were sent with knowledge and justice, as He, exalted, says:

“By the star when it descended—your companion has not strayed, nor has he erred; he does not speak from his own desire. It is nothing but revelation that is revealed.” ⦗An-Najm 53:1-4⦘