sins, reminds him of the promise of the True One, and brings wholesome spiritual states to his heart is recommended.

Those who regard such listening as recommended, including Abū ʿAbd al-Rahmān al-Sulamī, Abū Hāmid, and others, base their position on these two premises. Some of them may even regard it as obligatory at times, when they believe that an obligation cannot be fulfilled without it.

Likewise, they prefer it to listening to the Quran when they believe that listening to melodies achieves more than listening to the Quran. In this, they resemble those who deem certain newly introduced forms of speculative theology obligatory, and those who prefer the knowledge it contains to what can be learned from the Quran and hadith.

Among the latter, however, are those who believe that faith cannot be complete without the speculative theology they have introduced. Some declare those who oppose it unbelievers or sinners.

Among the adherents of such listening, too, are those who believe that faith cannot be complete without it. Some make grave accusations against anyone who rejects it, and may even seek to kill such a person. Yet, as a group, they were better than the speculative theologians, despite whatever else they committed