—those who live in luxury and ease, whose circumstances have led them into wickedness. The “second category” consists of those who practise monastic austerity, whose excesses and severity have led them into religious innovations. The former have enjoyed their allotted share, while the latter have engaged in vain discourse as those before them did.

Those who pursue forbidden desires, or overindulge in permissible things while neglecting the prescribed prayers and acts of worship, fall under the sway of Satan and their own desires. This causes them to forget Allah and the Hereafter and corrupts their condition, as is frequently observed among them.

Others forbid themselves the good things Allah has made lawful—even though they say, “Allah has not forbidden this.” Rather, they undertake to abstain from them, either through a vow or an oath, as many worshippers and ascetics have forbidden themselves various things. One of them says, “I vow to Allah never to eat any food during the daytime.” Another pledges not to eat food that appeals to his appetite, binding himself to this through his intention and resolve, even without swearing an oath or making a vow.

One undertakes not to drink water; another, not to eat bread; another, not to drink the barley beverage; another, never to speak at all. One emasculates himself, while another undertakes neither to marry nor to slaughter animals. Such practices are forms of the monasticism they have invented as a means of striving against the self and subduing desires and appetites.

There is no doubt that striving against the self is commanded, as is subduing desires and appetites. As is established from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, he said:

“The one who truly strives is he who strives against his own self for Allah’s sake, and the wise person is he who calls himself to account and works for what comes after