and its leaders—you will find that most of it is of this kind: wrongdoing, whether based on an interpretation or not. Thus the Jahmiyyah wronged the adherents of the Sunnah during the ordeal concerning the divine attributes and the Quran—the ordeal of Ahmad and others. Likewise, the Rāfidah repeatedly wronged the adherents of the Sunnah, and the Nāsibah wronged Ali and his household. Those who liken Allah to His creation may likewise wrong those who affirm His transcendence. Some adherents of the Sunnah may also wrong one another, or a particular group of religious innovators, by going beyond what Allah has commanded. This is the excess mentioned in their supplication:

“Our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses in our affairs.”

Opposite this aggression stands the failure of others to uphold the truth they have been commanded to uphold, or to carry out their duty to enjoin right and forbid wrong in all these matters. How apt are the words of one of the early generations:

“Whenever Allah commands something, Satan seeks to obstruct it in one of two ways—he cares not which succeeds: excess or neglect.”

Thus, opposite the one who assists in sin and aggression stands the one who fails to assist in righteousness and piety. Opposite the one who does what is commanded but adds something forbidden stands the one who avoids what is forbidden but also neglects some of what is commanded. May Allah guide us to the straight path. There is no power nor strength except through Allah.