Since this is so, those who know these matters best are those most closely connected with the Messenger: those who know best his words and deeds, his movements and stillness, his comings and goings, his inward and outward life; those most knowledgeable about his Companions, his life and its events; those most diligent in studying all this and those who transmitted it; and those most devoted to following him and taking him as their example.

These are the people of the Sunnah and hadith. They preserve his hadith, distinguish its sound reports from its unsound ones, comprehend it, and possess an understanding of its meanings that Allah grants them. They believe and affirm it, obey and submit, and follow his example. Alongside this, they possess powerful intellects, sound analogical reasoning and discernment, and profound spiritual unveilings and communications. Their reflection, reasoning and judgment are the soundest, and their dreams and unveilings the truest.

Does not anyone with even the slightest reason and religious commitment know that these people have a stronger claim to truthfulness, knowledge, faith and sound understanding than those who oppose them? That they possess knowledge which the ignorant and the religious innovator deny? That what they possess is the manifest truth, whereas those who are ignorant of their ways and oppose them are themselves burdened with empty verbiage and misguidance?

This is a subject that would require a lengthy explanation. For human souls produce words and deeds that none but the Lord of Majesty can fully encompass. Utterances include informative statements and performative expressions, such as commands and prohibitions. The finest and truest discourse is the Book of Allah: its reports are the truest reports, its exposition the clearest exposition, and its commands the wisest commands.

“Then in what statement after Allah and His verses will they believe?”

And everyone