Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah have mercy on him—also said:

Section

I have written a section in the notebook on events concerning “The Essence of Renunciation and Scrupulousness,” explaining that “renunciation” means abstaining from what brings no benefit: either because it has no benefit at all, or because its benefit is outweighed, since it causes one to forgo something more beneficial or brings about something whose harm exceeds its benefit.

As for things whose benefit is unalloyed or outweighs their harm, renouncing them is foolish. “Scrupulousness,” by contrast, means refraining from what may cause harm. This includes prohibited and doubtful matters, since they may cause harm. Whoever guards against doubtful matters safeguards his honour and religion, while whoever falls into doubtful matters falls into the unlawful, like a shepherd grazing around a protected pasture who is liable to stray into it.

As for “scrupulousness” concerning what involves no harm, or harm that is outweighed—owing to what