adopt celibacy, among them Companions such as ‘Uthmān ibn Maz‘ūn and those who gathered with him. The two Sahīh collections contain the hadith of Anas concerning the four men, one of whom said, “As for me, I will fast without a break.” Another said, “As for me, I will spend the night in prayer and never sleep.” Another said, “As for me, I will not marry women.” The fourth said, “As for me, I will not eat meat.” The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“But I fast and break my fast, marry women, and eat meat. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me.”

It therefore seems—and Allah knows best—that His words,

“Do not forbid the good things Allah has made lawful for you,”

refer to someone who forbids himself something lawful, either verbally or by resolving to abstain from it, like the one who said, “I will not marry women or eat meat.” This is innovated monasticism, for a monk neither marries nor slaughters animals.

His words,

“And do not transgress,”

refer to those who said, “I will spend the night in prayer and never sleep,” and, “I will fast without a break.” Transgression means exceeding the bounds, and such a person exceeds the bounds in prescribed worship. This resembles transgression in supplication, as in His words:

“Call upon your Lord humbly and in secret. Indeed, He does not love transgressors.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“There will be people who transgress in supplication and purification.”

Thus, there is transgression in “worship and scrupulousness,” as with those who scrupulously abstained from things in which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, availed himself of concessions; and in “asceticism,” as with those who forbade good things. Both of these categories involve abstention. His words, “And do not transgress,” may therefore refer specifically to acts of worship, or