of realities and the most upright in speech and conduct, it follows that those who know him best are the most knowledgeable of all creation concerning those realities, and that those who conform most closely to him and follow his example are the best of all creation.

One should not object: “This natural disposition is altered by the negligence and transgression found among those who identify with the Sunnah and hadith.” The answer is that these failings are more prevalent among others. What is required is to compare each group as a whole with the other, considering both praiseworthy and blameworthy qualities. This is the just comparison. What alters this natural disposition is limited knowledge of hadith and the Sunnah and insufficient adherence to them, coupled with the degree of rigor in certain areas of knowledge and excellence in certain actions found among those who oppose them. These merits then become a misleading basis for accepting a person’s other views and giving him preference. We have no interest in naming individuals. Abū Muhammad ibn Qutaybah, at the beginning of his book Mukhtalif al-Hadīth (Conflicting Hadith Reports), and other scholars have mentioned countless matters in this connection that illustrate what we have said.

The aim is simply to describe the method of knowledge and action itself: the method by which the realities of matters addressed through reports and theoretical inquiry are understood, and the realities of matters involving will and action are attained. Whenever someone other than the Messenger possesses knowledge of these matters, the ability to explain them, or a desire to impart that knowledge, the Messenger knows more about them, is more eager to provide guidance, and is better able to explain them than that person. The same applies to his Companions after him and to their followers.

These are the qualities of perfection: knowledge, will, doing good, and the ability to do so, as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said in the supplication for seeking Allah’s guidance in making a choice: