There is no doubt that obedience to Allah and the prayers that believers make for one another—along with similar righteous deeds—bring benefit in this world and the next; all of that is purely by Allah’s grace and mercy.

[Clarifying the reality of the qutb, the ghawth, and the all-encompassing solitary]

As for the questioner’s inquiry about “the qutb, the ghawth, and the al-fard al-jamiʿ,” these expressions are used by certain groups, but many of them explain them with notions that are invalid in Islam. For example, some allege that the “ghawth” is the being through whom all creatures receive their aid—whether victory or provision—going so far as to claim that even the help granted to the angels and to the fish in the sea passes through him. This is akin to what the Christians say about the Messiah, peace be upon him, and what the extremists say about ʿAlī, may Allah be pleased with him. Such a belief is outright disbelief, and its proponent must be summoned to repent; if he repents, all well and good, but if he refuses he is to be executed, for this is not among