And one of their poets said:

“Why do your pale camels never come to rest,
And how long will your shadow keep moving ceaselessly?
When you reach your destination, you will learn
That your journey led to none but yourself.”

According to them, a person is his own ultimate goal and the object of his own worship. Beyond himself, there is nothing for him to worship, seek, call upon, or answer. Thus, their doctrine is, in essence, the doctrine of Pharaoh.

I used to tell those whom I addressed that their doctrine was, in essence, Pharaoh’s doctrine, until one of the trustworthy, knowledgeable people with whom I had discussed this matter told me that one of their leaders had invited him to embrace their doctrine and disclosed to him the true nature of their secret. He said: “I asked him, ‘Is this Pharaoh’s doctrine?’ He replied, ‘Yes, and we follow Pharaoh’s doctrine.’”

I then said to him: “Praise be to Allah that they have admitted this, for once an opponent acknowledges the matter, no further evidence is needed.”

He has portrayed the one who follows an extended path as pursuing an imagined object, and has praised bewildered circular movement. Yet the Quran commands people to follow the straight path, praises it, and commends those who follow it—not the circular path. Thus, in the Mother of the Book:

“Guide us to the straight path.”

And He said:

“And this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow other paths.”

And He said:

“If they had done what they were instructed to do, it would have been better for them and would have strengthened them more firmly.”

This and the following verse.

And Allah Most High said concerning Moses and Aaron:

“And We gave them the clear Scripture.”

“And We guided them