those who advanced these views through their independent reasoning have made commendable efforts and performed worthy deeds, for which they are rewarded and recompensed.

In every disputed question over which the Muslim community has differed, the more correct of the two positions is the one that accords with Allah’s Book and His Messenger’s Sunnah. Whoever reaches this position receives two rewards, while whoever’s independent reasoning leads him only to the other position receives one reward. Compared with the other position, the view that accords with his Sunnah resembles an easy path through fertile land that leads to the intended destination. Those other views involve long distances, rough terrain, and hudūtha. Their adherents therefore experience greater toil and hardship than those following the way prescribed by the revealed law.

For this reason, they propagated what the Book and Sunnah indicate according to that approach, which entails binding consequences that Allah and His Messenger hate: severed ties, separation, scattered families, ruined homes, and the division between husband and wife that Satan and sorcerers love—corruption evident to every person of sound judgment. They must then either accept this great evil and submit to burdens and shackles, or resort to the reprehensible practices of those who employ stratagems. Allah kept the Prophet and his Companions clear of both groups by providing them with lawful means sufficient for their needs.

“There are three paths”: the way prescribed purely by the revealed law, in accordance with the Book and Sunnah—the path of the foremost and most virtuous early believers and those who followed them in righteousness; and the ways of burdens and shackles, and of scheming and stratagems—even though those who follow them may be among the foremost people of knowledge and faith, obedient to Allah and His Messenger in the independent reasoning they have undertaken