Thus, what Shaykh Abū ‘Abd al-Rahmān and others like him compiled in Tārīkh Ahl al-Suffa (History of the People of the Portico), accounts of the early ascetics, and biographical collections of Sufis offers substantial benefits. The false reports it contains should be avoided, and judgment should be suspended concerning its weak reports.

The same applies to many transmitters of reports and proponents of opinions and spiritual experiences among jurists, ascetics, speculative theologians, and others. What they transmit from their predecessors and what they themselves affirm and believe contain an abundance of the guidance and religion of truth with which Allah sent His Messenger. Yet at times their works also contain many false or weak reports, as well as opinions and spiritual experiences that are unsound or open to question.

Those who enjoy widespread good repute within the Muslim community, receiving praise and commendation across its various groups, are the leaders of guidance and lamps in the darkness. Their errors are few compared with what they get right, and most concern matters open to independent scholarly judgment in which they are excused. They are those who follow knowledge and justice, and are therefore far removed from ignorance and injustice, and from following conjecture and the desires of the soul.