Hudhayfah knew the names of the hypocrites, knowledge which the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had imparted specifically to him. They also cite the hadith of Abū Hurayrah:

“I memorized two bags’ worth of knowledge.”

They relate a statement from Abū Sa‘īd al-Kharrāz, who said:

“Those who know Allah have treasuries in which they have deposited extraordinary knowledge. They speak of it in the language of endless eternity and describe it in the language of beginningless eternity.”

They also say that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Some knowledge is like a hidden treasure, known only to those who know Allah. When they speak of it, none reject it except those who are deluded about Allah.”

Are their claims correct or not? May my master explain their statements to us, for your servant has come across a passage by one of the scholars mentioning that al-Wāhidī said:

“Abū ‘Abd al-Rahmān al-Sulamī compiled a book which he called Haqā’iq al-Tafsīr (The Realities of Quranic Interpretation). If it is authentically attributed to him, then he has disbelieved.”

I have examined this book and found that this group’s statements come from it or resemble its contents. What is my master’s view of this?

Is it authentically reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The Quran has an inner meaning,” and the rest of the hadith? They interpret it according to their own spiritual tastes and experiences, which are rejected by Islamic law. Give us your ruling, and may you be rewarded.

The shaykh—may Allah be pleased with him—answered:

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. As for the aforementioned hadith, it is one of the fabricated hadiths that have not been transmitted by anyone