far away. His treatments are a gamble, for he need not fear being encountered again or having his work scrutinized.

Resident physicians are blamed for prolonging treatment, yet they have merely chosen gentle treatment with compounded medicines rather than potent drugs. Although the latter hasten pain relief, they are not free of dangers or adverse consequences. The relief afforded by potent medicines comes only through overpowering the illness; whenever illnesses are overpowered, the strength of the affected part is weakened.

It is as the saying goes:

“Medicine is to the body what soap is to cloth: it cleans it but wears it out.”

The harsher and more effective the soap, the more it wears out the cloth. Likewise, jurists and hadith scholars fall short of dispelling doubts. They speak on the basis of transmitted reports and, fearing that doubts may enter the hearts of ordinary people, keep their discourse brief and say little. When answering, they consider the consequences. Innovators and those who follow conjecture, however, rush in recklessly, just like the barkhashtī. Their teachings bring an hour’s delight, but have no lasting substance.

If some people are confused by the Sufis’ deceptive presentation of the saying of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“Among my community are those who are inspired and those who are spoken to,”

this being the insights and understanding imparted to them, such as those voiced by Umar, they are told:

“Had he spoken