introduced by some Sufis.

The first consists of sweeping claims about passionate love for Allah and communion with Him that dispenses with outward deeds. Some even go so far as to claim union, the lifting of the veil, beholding Him through vision, and speaking with Him directly. They say, ‘We were told such and such, and we said such and such.’ In this they imitate al-Husayn ibn Mansūr al-Hallāj, who was crucified for uttering statements of this kind.”

He said: “The second category of extravagant utterances consists of unintelligible statements that appear impressive and contain awe-inspiring expressions, yet have nothing of substance behind them. Either they are unintelligible to the speaker himself, who produces them out of mental confusion and a disordered imagination, because he has little grasp of the meaning of words that have reached