and is pleased with it. Thus, all matters become equal in their eyes; the only distinction they recognize is some extraordinary feat. Whoever performs such a feat, they regard as an ally of Allah and submit to him—whether by following him, agreeing with him and loving him, or accepting his state without either loving or hating him. For their hearts no longer retain enough faith to recognize right and reject wrong in this matter.

It is authentically reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever among you sees a wrong, let him change it with his hand. If he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart—and that is the weakest level of faith.”

In a narration recorded by Muslim:

“Whoever strives against them with his hand is a believer; whoever strives against them with his tongue is a believer; and whoever strives against them with his heart is a believer. Beyond that, there is not a mustard seed’s weight of faith.”

The dead among the living are those who neither recognize right nor reject wrong. In the hadith of Hudhayfah recorded in Sahīh Muslim:

“Temptations are presented to hearts as a mat is woven, reed by reed. Any heart that rejects them receives a white mark, and any heart that absorbs them receives a black mark, until hearts become of two kinds: a white heart, like smooth stone, which no temptation harms as long as the heavens and earth endure; and a black, dusky heart that neither recognizes right nor rejects wrong, except what accords with the desires it has absorbed.”

Thus, these devout ascetics who worshipped Allah according to their own opinions, spiritual tastes, and experiences, rather than