The shaykh—may Allah have mercy on him—also said:

Chapter: The Straight Path in Asceticism, Worship, Scrupulousness in Abstaining from Forbidden Things and Desires, and Moderation in Worship

Adherence to the Sunnah protects against the evil of the self and Satan, without recourse to innovated paths. Those who follow such paths inevitably become entangled in burdens and shackles, even if they act on an interpretation; they cannot avoid following their desires. For this reason, the proponents of innovation are called the followers of desires. The way of the Sunnah is knowledge, justice, and guidance, whereas innovation contains ignorance, injustice, and the pursuit of conjecture and whatever the soul desires.

The Messenger has neither gone astray nor erred. Misguidance goes hand in hand with waywardness: everyone who is wayward is misguided. Right conduct is the opposite of waywardness, and guidance is the opposite of misguidance. This entails avoiding the path of the wicked and the proponents of innovation, both of whom the early generations used to warn against.

Allah Most High says:

“But they were succeeded by generations who neglected prayer and followed their desires; they will therefore meet with ruin.”