And beware of being deceived by the renunciation of disbelievers and religious innovators. A sinful believer who seeks both the Hereafter and this world is better than the ascetics among religious innovators and disbelievers, because their beliefs are corrupt, their intentions are corrupt, or both are corrupt.

The twenty-second point:

Good deeds are a cause of things being made lawful, both in religious law and in the created order, while sins are a cause of things being forbidden in both respects. Prohibition may serve as protection or as punishment, while making things lawful may bring abundance or serve as punishment and a trial. Allah Most High says:

“Livestock have been made lawful for you, except what is recited to you, provided that you do not deem hunting lawful while in a state of pilgrimage consecration.”

Thus, He permitted livestock to them while they refrained from treating hunting as lawful—that is, while believing it to be forbidden and abstaining from it.

He also says:

“Forbidden to you are carrion, blood, and the flesh of swine,”

through to His words:

“Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you.”

It is established that this verse was revealed on the afternoon of the Day of ‘Arafah during the Farewell Pilgrimage. Allah thus perfected the religion by prescribing the obligations He prescribed, the last of which was Hajj, and by prohibiting the forbidden things mentioned in this verse. This was in terms of His legislation. As for His action—His granting strength, assistance, and victory—the disbelievers despaired of overcoming our religion, and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, performed the pilgrimage prescribed in Islam. When they had completed their observance of the religion, He said immediately afterward: