and seclusion, and similar devotional, ascetic, and Sufi practices.

One of their leading figures addressed me about this matter with deep concern and asked me not to argue with him using scriptural proofs from the Quran and Sunnah. He said, “I am not saying that these are reports and that reports admit of uncertainty; rather, there are other considerations.” From what I knew of his condition, I understood how little weight those proofs carried with him. Addressing him through rational arguments was easier for him and clearer to him, even though this is what the Book of Allah Most High establishes. In it, He has set forth every kind of example for people, made it a judge between them concerning their disagreements, and commanded the believers, when they dispute—“in darkness,” and “surely in conflicting speech {8}. Turned away from it is whoever is turned away {9}.”

And He said:

“For it is not the eyes that are blind, but the hearts within the breasts that are blind {46}.” [al-Hajj 46]

As He, Most High, said:

“Have they not travelled through the land, so that they may have hearts with which to reason?” [al-Hajj 46]

These and similar passages show that contradictory speech is false and condemn those who fail to understand such things and are blind to truth apprehensible by reason.

So I said to him, “There is no dispute that there may