And because these two duties are thought to conflict, some people become bewildered over this matter. The bewildered person does not know what to do, since the truth is not clear and what should be done is not distinguished from what should be left undone—either because the truth is obscure to him or because he cannot discern what accords with his desires.

Religious innovation is coupled with division, just as the Sunnah is coupled with unity. Thus, one speaks of “the people of the Sunnah and the community,” just as one speaks of “the people of innovation and division.” We have discussed all this at length elsewhere.

The purpose here is only to draw attention to how the two are inseparably connected: loyalty toward those who have split into factions, even if both sides exhibit innovation and division; or, if they are believers, they are shown loyalty on account of their faith, while whatever is not part of faith—innovation and division—is abandoned. Religious innovation is whatever Allah has not prescribed as part of religion. Thus, whenever anyone adopts as religion something Allah has not prescribed, that is an innovation, even if he does so on the basis of an interpretation.

This occurs among all those, past and present, who have split into factions on the basis of interpretation. If they regard what they have done as something commanded, when it is not, then what they have done is not Sunnah. Rather, it is an innovation based on interpretation, in which hypocrites exercise independent judgment, whether it concerns worldly affairs or religion.

As Allah—exalted be He—said:

“Had they gone forth among you, they would have added nothing to you but confusion, and would have hastened