from creation, contrary to the doctrine embraced by those among the Sufis and others who affirm union with Allah, whether particular or universal.

For this reason, they objected to this statement of al-Junayd, as did Ibn al-ʿArabī al-Tāʾī, a leading proponent of union.

Abū al-Qāsim said: “They firmly established the foundations of belief through clear proofs and manifest evidence, as Abū Muhammad al-Jurayrī said: ‘Whoever does not ground his knowledge of Allah’s oneness in supporting evidence will, through delusion, lose his footing and fall into the abyss of destruction.’”

Abū al-Qāsim said: “He means that whoever relies on unquestioning imitation and does not reflect upon the proofs of Allah’s oneness falls from the path of salvation and becomes a captive of destruction.”