and the sunnah of His Messenger, followed them both as his guides, submitted to them, and surrendered to their rulings, without objecting to either of them on the basis of conjecture, speculation, or claims of impossibility. It is inconceivable that such a person should be disparaged, for the Muslims are unanimously agreed that he is more steadfast upon the path of truth, better guided to and more knowledgeable of the ways of right guidance, more blessed through the light of following the revealed guidance, and farther removed—and safer—from the darkness of innovation and the contrivance of invented doctrines than one who cannot hold fast to the Book of Allah except by subjecting it to reinterpretation, cannot adhere to the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah except by denying it or treating it with astonishment, and cannot affiliate himself with the Companions, the Successors, and the righteous early generations except in mockery and derision. Such a person has nothing but the repetition of falsehood and the fabrication of lies against Allah, His Messenger, and His righteous servants.

His religion is nothing but clamour, babbling, shouting, and empty prattle. He has cast the veil of modesty behind his back, clothed himself in the garment of folly, and bared his head in shamelessness. He bears his own burdens and the burdens of those whom he has led astray without knowledge. Unquestionably, evil is what they bear. He is as Allah, exalted is He, says:

“Those who disbelieve say to those who believe, ‘Follow our way, and we will bear your sins.’ But they will not bear anything of their sins. Indeed, they are liars. Yet they will surely carry their own burdens and other burdens along with their own burdens, and on the Day of Resurrection they will surely be questioned about what they used to fabricate.” [al-ʿAnkabut: 12]