In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. Success comes through Him.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah bestow blessings and abundant peace upon him, his family, and his Companions.

A Principle Concerning the Obligation to Remain Upright and Balanced and to Follow the Quran and Sunnah Regarding Allah’s Names and Attributes and the Affirmation of His Oneness in Speech and Belief

An explanation that the Quran and Sunnah encompass all guidance, and that division and misguidance arose only through abandoning part of that guidance; a discussion of all the opposing religious innovations in this matter, involving excess in negation and affirmation, and how they first arose; and an account of the ambiguous designations, disagreements, and divisions that emerged in this regard, leading those who differed to declare one another unbelievers. This resulted from abandoning some truth, adopting some falsehood, concealing the truth, and mixing truth with falsehood.

Section

Innovated opinions concerning the foundations of religion—that is, innovated speculative theology—and concerning its subsidiary matters—that is, innovated legal opinion—as well as innovated forms of worship, such as innovated Sufism, and innovated governance: various groups of people think that religion needs these things, especially each group