if those practices are innovations with no basis in the Sunnah. Spending money on such outward forms involves a kind of mockery of religion, wrongful consumption of people’s wealth, and turning away from Allah’s path.

Any of the aforementioned Sufis entitled to support who possesses some additional merit—such as diligence in voluntary worship, striving to rectify the states of the heart, seeking something of the a‘yān, or acquiring knowledge that constitutes a communal obligation—has greater entitlement than others. Anyone who does not observe the manners prescribed by Islamic law is entitled to nothing whatsoever. A student of knowledge whose needs are not fully met has greater entitlement than someone who neither observes those manners nor possesses knowledge. Indeed, the latter is entitled to nothing.