authentic transmitted evidence and the clear dictates of reason, claiming that knowledge can be attained only through their method, or that no one can be a fully accomplished scholar without knowing their method, it became necessary to explain what their methods contain. This serves to counter those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to spread corruption on earth, to clarify beneficial paths other than theirs, and to show that people of knowledge and faith understand the true nature of what these people put forward and are not incapable of doing so. Yet someone who is capable of highway robbery but refrains from it out of faith, seeking Allah’s reward and pursuing justice and truth, and instead devotes his strength to fighting the enemies of Allah and His Messenger, is better than someone who uses the strength he has been given for something resembling highway robbery.

“When they are told, ‘Do not spread corruption on earth,’ they say, ‘We are only putting things right.’ * Indeed, it is they who spread corruption, but they do not perceive it. * When they are told, ‘Believe as the people have believed,’ they say, ‘Should we believe as the fools have believed?’ Indeed, it is they who are the fools, but they do not know. * When they meet those who believe, they say, ‘We believe,’ but when they are alone with their devils, they say, ‘We are with you; we were only mocking.’ * Allah mocks them and allows them to wander blindly on in their transgression. * These are the ones who have purchased misguidance in exchange for guidance; their trade has brought them no profit, nor were they guided. * Their likeness is that of someone who kindled a fire: when it illuminated everything around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness, unable to see. * Deaf, mute and blind, they will not return. * Or like a rainstorm from the sky, in which there are darkness and thunder