He allows you to retain is an honour, whereas whatever He takes away from you is a gradual enticement towards ruin. So say: I am a believer, if Allah Most High wills.’

He said: Abū al-‘Abbās al-Sayyārī was the leading shaykh of his time.

He also said: I heard the teacher Abū ‘Alī al-Daqqāq say, ‘A man was massaging Abū al-‘Abbās al-Sayyārī’s leg, and he said to him, “You are massaging a leg that I have never moved in disobedience to Allah Most High.”’

He said: Abū Bakr al-Wāsitī said, ‘Whoever says, “I am truly a believer in Allah,” is told: “Such truth implies a clear view, insight, and comprehensive knowledge. Whoever lacks this has no valid claim to it.”’

Abū al-Qāsim said: ‘By this he means what Ahl al-Sunnah have stated: a true believer is someone for whom Paradise has been decreed. Whoever does not know this from the hidden wisdom of Allah Most High cannot validly claim to be a true believer.’”

I say: Qualifying one’s profession of faith is the Sunnah according to the generality of Ahl al-Sunnah, and it has been mentioned by