and we affirm our loyalty to all the other Companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and refrain from discussing the disputes that arose among them. We profess before Allah that the [four] imams were upright, rightly guided caliphs, men of excellence whom no others equal in virtue.

We believe all the reports that [are] affirmed by the transmitters concerning the descent to the lowest heaven, and that the Lord, Mighty and Majestic, says, “Is there anyone asking? Is there anyone seeking forgiveness?” We likewise believe everything else they have transmitted and established, contrary to what the people of deviation and misguidance say.

In matters over which we differ, we rely upon the Book of our Lord, the Sunnah of our Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the consensus of the Muslims, and whatever is of like import. We introduce nothing into Allah’s religion for which He has given us no permission, nor do we say about Allah what we do not know.

We affirm that Allah, Mighty and Majestic, will come on the Day of Resurrection, as He says:

“And your Lord comes, and the angels, rank upon rank (22)” [al-Fajr: 22].

And that Allah, Mighty and Majestic, draws near to His servants however He wills, as He says:

“And We are closer to him than his jugular vein (16)” [Qāf: 16].

And as He says:

“Then he drew near and descended (8), and was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer (9)” [al-Najm: 8–9].

It is part of our religion to perform the Friday prayer, the Eid prayers, and all other prayers behind anyone, whether righteous or otherwise, just as it is related that “‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Umar” used to pray