and debates on that basis has disputed about Allah without knowledge, guidance, or an illuminating Book, in order to lead others astray from Allah’s path, for the Book of Allah is Allah’s path.

For this reason, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, explained the straight path as the Book of Allah, and also as Islam. Both explanations have been transmitted from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. In the hadith of al-Nawwās ibn Samʿān, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Allah has set forth a parable of a straight path. On either side of the path are two walls, with open doors in them and curtains hanging over the doors. There is a caller above the path and a caller at its entrance.

“The straight path is Islam; the two walls are Allah’s limits; the open doors are the things Allah has forbidden; the caller at the entrance to the path is the Book of Allah; and the caller above the path is Allah’s admonisher in the heart of every Muslim. Whenever a servant wishes to open one of those doors, the caller calls out to him: ‘O servant of Allah, do not open it, for if you open it, you will enter it.’”

It was narrated by Imam Ahmad and al-Tirmidhī, who graded it authentic.

It is well known that among the gravest things Allah has forbidden is opposing the Book of Allah with something that contradicts it and giving that precedence over it.

And in the hadith of ʿAlī, may Allah be pleased with him, which al-Tirmidhī and Abū Nuʿaym narrated through several