has not imposed upon the believers what they cannot do, nor forbidden them what necessity compels them to use through no sin of their own.” This was stated and written by Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah.

Among the reports they also attribute to him, peace and blessings be upon him, as relating from Allah, is:

“Neither My heaven nor My earth can contain Me, but the heart of My believing servant can.”

He replied: “Praise be to Allah. This appears among the reports transmitted from the Children of Israel. No known chain of transmission traces it back to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The meaning of ‘His heart contains Me’ is faith in Me, love for Me, and knowledge of Me. It does not mean, as some say, that Allah’s essence dwells in people’s hearts. This is a belief of the Christians, who restricted it to Christ alone.”

Among the reports they also attribute to him is:

“The heart is the house of the Lord.”

He replied: “Praise be to Allah. This statement is of the same kind as the preceding one: the heart is the home of faith in Allah, knowledge of Him, and love for Him. These are not the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.”

Among the reports they also attribute to him is:

“I was an unknown treasure, and I wished to be known. So I created creatures and made Myself known to them, and they knew Me.”

He replied: “These are not words spoken by Allah to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. No chain of transmission is known for this report, whether sound or weak.”

Among the reports they attribute to him, peace and blessings be upon him, is that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, spoke with Abū Bakr, I was like a black African between them”—someone who does not understand.