intending the truth and following what he had been commanded to follow—the Book and wisdom—he is excused for what he did not know. This is the kind of error for which we are not held accountable. This is unlike the adherents of caprice, for “they follow nothing but conjecture and what their souls desire” [al-Najm: 23] [al-Najm: 23]. Based on conjecture and caprice, they assert what they say with a certainty that admits no contrary, despite possessing no knowledge to warrant such certainty. They therefore believe what they were never commanded to believe, either inwardly or outwardly; pursue what they were never commanded to pursue; and exercise a kind of independent reasoning they were never commanded to exercise. Thus, neither their reasoning nor their intention provides grounds for the forgiveness of what they did not know. They are consequently either wrongdoers, resembling those who incurred wrath, or ignorant people, resembling those who went astray.
The person who exercises purely scholarly independent reasoning seeks nothing but the truth and has taken the path leading to it. As for one who follows pure caprice, he is someone who knows the truth yet obstinately turns away from it.
There is another category—and it comprises most people—in which a person is swayed by caprice while also entertaining a specious doubt concerning the course he seeks to pursue. Desire and doubt are thus combined. Hence, it is related in a report transmitted with its Companion link omitted that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “Allah loves penetrating insight when doubts arise, and He loves sound judgment when desires assail a person.”
The person engaged in pure independent reasoning is therefore either forgiven or rewarded, while the person governed purely by caprice deserves punishment. As for one whose independent reasoning is compounded of doubt and caprice, he has acted wrongly. Such people vary in degree according to which element predominates and according to the good deeds that erase sins.
Most later adherents of jurisprudence or Sufism are afflicted by this.