are more severe in their condemnation of deviant worshippers than of deviant speculative theologians. This is common among speculative theologians and jurists, especially the Mu‘tazilites. Such people may not recognize the aspects of worship and Sufism that revealed law commends. And as for those dominated by the Sufi approach—

This is frequently found in the writings of those devoted to asceticism and worship, especially those who hold the Sufi path in high esteem. Thus, figures such as Abū ‘Abd al-Rahmān al-Sulamī, Abū Tālib al-Makkī, Abū Ismā‘īl ‘Abd Allāh ibn Muhammad al-Ansārī, and Abū Hāmid al-Ghazālī, although they condemn certain deviations among Sufis, are far more severe in their condemnation of speculative theologians and those engaged in intellectual inquiry and rational investigation as a whole.

Likewise, figures such as Abū Bakr ibn Fūrak, Ibn ‘Aqīl, Abū Bakr al-Turtūshī, Abū ‘Abd Allāh al-Māzarī, and Abū al-Faraj ibn al-Jawzī, although they condemn certain innovations in speculative theology and philosophy, are far more severe in their condemnation of the innovations they criticize among those devoted to Sufism and worship.

Allah Most High said:

“Guide us to the straight path * The path of those You have blessed, not of those who have incurred Your anger, nor of those who have gone astray.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The Jews have incurred Allah’s anger, and the Christians have gone astray.”

Al-Tirmidhī narrated it and graded it authentic.

Some of the early generations used to say:

“Any jurist who becomes corrupt bears a resemblance to