As for what is related from Abū Sa‘īd al-Kharrāz and others like him on this subject, what Abū Tālib mentions in his book and what others relate, the statements of certain shaykhs thought to affirm an inward meaning that contradicts the apparent meaning, and similar passages found in the writings of Abū Hāmid al-Ghazālī or others—the answer to all this is as follows:

What is known to have come from the Messenger is conveyed by a trustworthy transmitter from an infallible speaker. Whatever contradicts it must be either a report from an unreliable transmitter or the statement of someone who is not infallible. Much of what is attributed to these men is falsely ascribed to them. In what is authentically reported from them, they were sometimes right and sometimes wrong. Most of their established statements employ broad, ambiguous expressions. Even had these been the words of the infallible Messenger, they would not have contradicted the established ruling. How much less, then, when they are the words of someone who is not infallible!

Abū al-Fadl al-Falakī compiled a book of the sayings of Abū Yazīd al-Bistāmī, which he entitled “Light from the Sayings of Tayfūr.” It contains much that was undoubtedly falsely attributed to Abū Yazīd al-Bistāmī. It also contains some errors made by Abū Yazīd—may Allah have mercy on him—and some good statements of his. Everyone’s statements may be accepted or rejected, except those of the Messenger of Allah—Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Anyone who is told that Abū Yazīd, or another of the shaykhs, said to his disciples: