Al-Ghazālī acknowledged that the Sufi path is the ultimate goal, for they purify their hearts of everything other than Allah and fill them with the remembrance of Allah. This is the starting point of the Messenger’s call. Yet the Sufi who lacks detailed knowledge of the prophetic teachings gains through this a general faith, unlike one who possesses those teachings, whose knowledge is detailed.

Reflect, then, on the paths of knowledge and practice, so that you may distinguish the path of the people of the Sunnah and faith from that of the people of innovation and hypocrisy, and the path of knowledge and understanding from that of ignorance and denial.