a person’s reason, neither he nor anyone else should adopt them as a creed, nor do they carry any legal weight. Rather, no accountability attaches to someone who is asleep, insane, unconscious, or intoxicated through no unlawful cause—for example, someone who is given wine without knowing what it is, has it poured down his throat until he becomes intoxicated, or is fed banj (an intoxicating plant) without knowing what it is. The same applies here.

Many believers may witness tremendous things of Allah’s majesty, greatness, and beauty that come upon tender hearts, causing fainting and unconsciousness. Some may cause death, and some may impair reason. Although this does not befall those among them who have attained perfection, just as it does not befall those below them, it occurs when what comes upon their hearts is powerful and the receiving heart is weak. Whoever is taken in by what they say or do in that state is astray and leads others astray.

“Sound spiritual states” are instead exemplified by what al-Bukhārī narrated in his Sahīh from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who related that his Lord, blessed and exalted is He, said:

“Whoever shows enmity to a close servant of Mine has openly declared war on Me. My servant draws near to Me through nothing like fulfilling what I have made obligatory upon him. My servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary acts of worship until I love him. When I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Through Me he hears, through Me he sees, through Me he strikes, and through Me he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give to him, and if he seeks My protection, I will surely protect him. I have never hesitated over anything I am going to do as I hesitate over