Spiritual taste and inward experience thus relate to a person’s love and the sweetness, savor, and flavor he finds in it. Everyone who loves has such a taste and experience in relation to what he loves. If this is not supported by authority from Allah—namely, what He revealed to His Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace—then that person is following his desires without guidance. Allah Most High has said:

“And who is more astray than one who follows his desires without guidance from Allah?”

He also said:

“Why should you not eat of that over which Allah’s name has been mentioned, when He has already explained to you in detail what He has forbidden you, except what you are compelled to eat? Indeed, many lead others astray through their desires without knowledge. Surely your Lord knows best those who transgress.”

Likewise, whoever follows the communications that come to him, or the lights and unseen figures he sees, without testing them against the Quran and Sunnah, is merely following conjecture, which is of no avail against the truth. Among those granted inward communication and inspiration, none is better than Umar, as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Among the nations before you were people who were inspired. If there is anyone among my nation who is one of them, it is Umar.”

Umar’s views agreed with his Lord’s revelation on several matters. Nevertheless, he was required to hold fast to what the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had brought, and not to accept whatever came to him until he had submitted it to the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He was not to put himself ahead of Allah and His Messenger. Rather, he was to assess whatever came to him accordingly; whenever matters became clear to him that contradicted his own impressions, he would return to the Sunnah. Abū Bakr would explain to him matters that had escaped him, and he would defer to the explanation of