“But I fast and break my fast, stand in prayer and sleep, marry women, and eat meat. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me.”

Allah Most High has revealed:

“O you who believe, do not forbid the good things Allah has made lawful for you, and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not love transgressors.” [Surah al-Mā’idah 87]

Yet Abū al-Qāsim and a group who share his views sometimes praise drawing near to Allah by renouncing desires altogether, while at other times they take an act’s being pleasurable as evidence that it is good and constitutes a means of drawing near to Him. This follows each person’s feelings and inclinations, rather than what Allah has sent down and revealed, what is true and just, or what is actually sound and beneficial.

The truth is that an act is neither praised nor condemned merely because it is pleasurable. Rather, what deserves praise is whatever involves greater obedience to Allah and greater benefit to the servant, whether it entails pleasure or hardship. Many a pleasurable act constitutes obedience and brings benefit, as does many an arduous act; and many an act, whether pleasurable or arduous, is forbidden.

Had he instead used this argument to support beautifying the recitation of the Quran by such means, it would have been appropriate. For using pleasures to assist in acts of obedience is something the revealed Law endorses, just as food and drink are used to sustain acts of worship.

Allah Most High says:

“O you who believe, eat of the good things We have provided for you