Yet, lacking reason, they cannot be among those whose hearts possess the realities of faith, the knowledge of Allah’s close friends, and the spiritual states of His chosen servants, for all these things depend upon reason. Insanity is incompatible with reason, assent, knowledge, certainty, guidance, and praise. Allah raises in rank only those who believe and those who have been given knowledge. Thus, although Allah does not punish the insane person and shows him mercy in the Hereafter, he is not among Allah’s close friends—those brought near to Him and those who follow a middle course—whose ranks Allah raises.

Whoever believes that any of these people who neither fulfil their obligations nor abstain from prohibitions—whether sane, insane, bereft of their senses, or lost in bewilderment—is among Allah’s pious close friends, His successful party, His righteous servants, His victorious forces, the foremost who are brought near to Him, and those who follow a middle course, whose ranks Allah raises through knowledge and faith, despite that person neither fulfilling his obligations nor abstaining from prohibitions: whoever believes such a person to be a close friend of Allah is a disbeliever who has apostatized from Islam. He does not bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace; rather, he denies what Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, has testified to.

For Muhammad reported from Allah that Allah’s close friends are the pious believers. The Most High says:

“Indeed, the close friends of Allah will have no fear, nor will they grieve—”

“Those who believed and were mindful of Allah.”

And the Most High says:

“O mankind, We created you from a male and a female and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may know one another. Indeed, the most honourable of you in Allah’s sight is the most pious of you.”