and another’s statement, “I will not eat meat,” as in the previously mentioned hadith of Anas. This is among the indications that perpetual fasting is disliked, as is continually spending the whole night in prayer.

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What the law of Islam has brought is the straight path, through which a person’s religious life is set right. As the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The most balanced fasting is the fasting of David: he would fast one day and not fast the next.”

An authentic version reads “the best” instead. What is best is what is most balanced and upright.

This Quran guides to the most upright way, which lies midway between these two groups: the people of religious innovation and the people of wickedness—those given to excess and those given to excessive austerity. This is why the early generations warned against both groups.

Al-Hasan said: “It is the innovator in his religion and the wicked man in his worldly life.” They used to say: “Beware of the worldly man whom his worldly life has led astray, and the follower of desires who follows his own desires.” They would enjoin keeping away from the people of religious innovation and wickedness. Thus, the “first category” consists of the people of wickedness