Introduction

All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and seek refuge in Allah from the evils within ourselves and from our wicked deeds. Whoever Allah guides, none can lead astray; and whoever He leads astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.

“O you who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except as Muslims.”

“O humanity, fear your Lord, who created you from a single soul, created from it its mate, and spread from the two of them many men and women. Fear Allah, in whose name you appeal to one another, and honor the ties of kinship. Indeed, Allah is ever watchful over you.”

“O you who believe, fear Allah and speak words of truth. He will set your deeds right for you and forgive you your sins. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed attained a mighty triumph.”

To proceed: the truest speech is the Book of Allah, the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, and the worst matters are those newly introduced. Every newly introduced matter is an innovation, every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire. Then, to proceed:

This is a study that I prepared several years ago because I needed it. It addresses a matter well known among all Muslims—their scholars and common folk, their young and old, and their human beings and jinn. It occurs continually and is established by the Quran, the sunnah, and consensus. The Wise Lawgiver has explained it, and sound reason accepts it. No one denies it except a misguided innovator and follower of caprice whose insight Allah has blinded. Such a person does not concern us in the least, for, as I have said, the matter is firmly established, whether anyone accepts it or refuses it, and reality itself bears witness to it.