and we ask Allah, exalted is He, to keep us firm upon faith, to let us end our lives with it, and to safeguard us from divergent passions and scattered opinions.

This, fellow Muslims, is our religion. We disavow anyone who opposes it, for it is a creed of truth and whatever contradicts it is falsehood.

Displaying proper etiquette toward Allah, the author—having set forth the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah—prays that Allah keep him steadfast upon it. Mere knowledge of the creed is not enough: a scholar can slip and err. Let no one be beguiled by his learning or feel secure from trials. Is anyone’s knowledge comparable to that of Abraham? Yet Abraham supplicated, “Keep me and my children away from worshipping idols. My Lord, they have led many people astray” (Ibrāhīm: 35-36).

A person must therefore implore Allah for safety and well-being, for many a learned man has stumbled and strayed from the religion—indeed, many!—and deeds are judged by their endings.

Nothing leads people astray but their own desires. Allah says, “Who is more astray than one who follows his desire without guidance from Allah?” (Al-Qasas: 50), and He says, “Have you seen the one who takes his own desire as his god, and Allah leads him astray knowingly?” (Al-Jāthiyah: 23). Therefore a believer should ask Allah for protection from caprice and for guidance to the truth, even when that truth conflicts with his own inclinations. Regarding the Jews, Allah says, “Is it whenever a messenger brought you something your souls did not desire that you grew arrogant—some of them you called liars and others you killed?” (Al-Baqarah: 87). Desire is extremely perilous.