nor do we testify that Allah loves him.”

Another group said that, on the contrary, we testify that anyone whose faith and piety are widely known among the people, and whom the Muslims unanimously praise, will enter Paradise. Such people include ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz, al-Hasan al-Basrī, Sufyān al-Thawrī, Abū Hanīfah, Mālik, al-Shāfi‘ī, Ahmad, al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyād, Abū Sulaymān al-Dārānī, Ma‘rūf al-Karkhī, ‘Abd Allāh ibn al-Mubārak—may Allah Most High be pleased with them—and others. For it is related in al-Sahīh:

“A funeral procession passed by the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the people spoke well of the deceased. He said, ‘It is assured; it is assured.’ Another funeral procession passed by him, and the people spoke ill of the deceased. He said, ‘It is assured; it is assured.’ They asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what do you mean by saying, “It is assured; it is assured”?’ He replied, ‘You spoke well of the first deceased person, so I said that Paradise was assured for them. You spoke ill of the second deceased person, so I said that the Fire was assured for them.’ He was asked, ‘On what grounds, O Messenger of Allah?’ He replied, ‘On account of the good and bad things said about them.’”

Once this is understood, many of those renowned as shaykhs in these times may have such ignorance, misguidance, disobedience, and sins as to prevent people from bearing such testimony on their behalf. Indeed, among them there may be hypocrites and evildoers, just as among them are Allah’s pious friends, His righteous servants, and His successful party. Such people are likewise found among those who are not shaykhs—and these are in Paradise—such as merchants, farmers, and people of other occupations.