As for al-Khattābī’s statement:

“They abandoned this method and turned away from it because they feared its temptations and were wary of its evil consequences.”

We shall explain, Allah willing, that those methods which contradict the Sunnah are false in themselves. They therefore turned away from them just as one turns away from lies and false speech, however embellished and adorned. They did not consider it permissible to counter falsehood with falsehood or to refute innovation with innovation.

As for discourse whose truth or falsity is unknown, it is like a witness whose truthfulness is unknown: one may turn away from it for fear that it might be false and untrue. This applies to methods whose nature is unknown.

Undoubtedly, many people do not know whether these methods are true or false. Speaking without knowledge is therefore forbidden. Some people may also be forbidden to examine matters they cannot understand or in which they cannot distinguish truth from falsehood, for fear that their judgment might falter and they might go astray, making it impossible to guide them back. Such fear thus concerns a method whose nature is unknown, or the unknown condition of the person pursuing it, even if the method itself is sound.

Discourse that contradicts the revealed texts, however, is false in itself. Prohibiting it is therefore like prohibiting lying, disbelief, and the like.

And his statement:

“They had clear evidence for their position and insight into their religion, owing to the guidance Allah granted them through His enabling grace and the light of knowing Him with which He opened their hearts.”