whereas putting forward other grounds is a form of hypocrisy in knowledge and practice. This is a “principle” established by the Sunnah and scholarly consensus, as well as the Book. Allah Most High says:

“Or do they have partners who have ordained for them in religion what Allah has not permitted?”

Whoever recommends something as a means of drawing nearer to Allah, or makes it obligatory through his words or actions, without Allah having prescribed it, has ordained in religion what Allah has not permitted. Whoever follows him in that has taken a partner alongside Allah who has ordained in religion what Allah has not permitted. He may, however, be forgiven on account of an interpretation if he exercises independent scholarly judgment of the kind for which one who errs is excused. Nevertheless, it is not permissible to follow him in that, as Allah Most High says:

“They have taken their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah.”

Whoever obeys anyone in a religious matter that Allah has not authorized—whether declaring something lawful, unlawful, recommended, or obligatory—incurs a share of this blame, just as the person issuing the commands and prohibitions does. Yet both may be pardoned. The blame may therefore not apply because a condition for it is absent or an impediment to it is present, even though the grounds for it exist. Blame applies to someone to whom the truth has become clear but who abandons it; someone who falls short in seeking it, so that it does not become clear to him; or someone who turns away from seeking it out of desire, laziness, or the like.

Furthermore, Allah reproached the polytheists for two things:

“First”: associating with Him that for which He had sent down no authority.

“Second”: prohibiting what Allah had not prohibited, as he—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—explained in the hadith of