and practice, but in forms that were not prescribed. Neglect and transgression arose among these groups. This is why mutual hostility developed between them: the former accuse the latter of religious innovation and misguidance, and rightly so; the latter accuse the former of ignorance and incapacity, and rightly so.

Yet some of the former may possess much prescribed knowledge and practice, just as some of the latter may possess much inward knowledge and a latent spiritual state. Thus, al-Hasan al-Basrī narrated, in one of his reports omitting the Companion from the chain, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Knowledge is of two kinds: knowledge in the heart and knowledge on the tongue. Knowledge in the heart is beneficial knowledge, while knowledge on the tongue is Allah’s proof against His servants.”

Yahyā ibn Sa‘īd al-Taymī, Abū Hayyān, said, as related by al-Khallāl in his Compendium on the authority of al-Thawrī:

“Scholars are of three kinds: one who knows Allah but does not know Allah’s commands; one who knows Allah’s commands but does not know Allah; and one who knows both Allah and His commands.”