and the Sunnah, they must negate. Regarding anything that the Book and the Sunnah neither affirm nor deny, they must ask the speaker to clarify what he means. Whoever affirms what Allah and His Messenger have affirmed is correct, and whoever denies what Allah and His Messenger have denied is correct. But whoever affirms what Allah has denied, or denies what Allah has affirmed, has mixed the religion of truth with falsehood. He must therefore distinguish the truth in his words from the falsehood, follow the truth, and abandon the falsehood.

Whatever contradicts the Book and the Sunnah also contradicts sound reason, for sound reason does not contradict authentic revelation, just as the teachings transmitted from the prophets, peace be upon them, do not contradict one another. Yet many people imagine that these contradict one another. Such people are among those who differ over the Scripture:

“Indeed, those who differ over the Scripture are in deep discord.”

We ask Allah to guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom He has bestowed His favor—the prophets, the steadfastly truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. What excellent companions they are!