As for the Jews (1), wholesome things that had been lawful for them were forbidden to them. They therefore prohibit wholesome things that benefit people and avoid pure things as they do impurities (2). They neither eat with a menstruating woman nor sit with her. Thus, they remain bound by burdens and shackles through which they have been punished.

The former (3) consume harmful, foul things, even though their monks forbid themselves wholesome things that were made lawful for them. They thus prohibit wholesome things and come into direct contact with impurities. The latter prohibit wholesome and beneficial things, even though they are among the foulest of people at heart and the most corrupt inwardly.

Outward purity is sought only for the sake of purity of heart; yet they purify their outward selves while defiling their hearts.

Likewise, within Islam, Ahl al-Sunnah follow a middle course in all matters. With regard to Alī, they occupy a middle position between the Kharijites and the Rāfidites. With regard to Uthmān, they likewise occupy a middle position between the Marwāniyya and the Zaydis. With regard to the rest of the Companions, they occupy a middle position between those who go to excess concerning them and those who malign them. Regarding the divine threat of punishment, they occupy a middle position between the Kharijites and Muʿtazilites on the one hand and the Murjiʾites on the other. Regarding predestination, they occupy a middle position between the Qadarites among the Muʿtazilites and similar groups, and the compulsionist Qadarites among the Jahmites and similar groups. Regarding the divine attributes, they occupy a middle position between those who negate them and those who liken Allah to His creation.

The point is that every group other than Ahl al-Sunnah and the people of hadith, who follow the reports of