deviate toward false Christianity.
For they say: If a person purifies his soul in the manner they describe, knowledge will flow into him without study. Yet the worship of many of them is innovated (1), and may even contradict what the Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—brought. They therefore remain (2) corrupt in their deeds and deficient in knowledge, because they have not learned what the Messenger brought. Such failings often arise from (3) both groups: each faction disparages the other, while each claims to follow the Messenger.
What the Messenger brought, however, accords with the position of neither group:
“Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but was an upright Muslim, and he was not one of the polytheists.”
[Surah Āl Imrān: 67]
Neither the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—nor his Companions followed the way of the innovators devoted to speculative theology and personal opinion, or the way of the innovators devoted to worship and Sufism. Rather, his way was founded upon the Book and wisdom with which Allah sent him.
[Response to the Proponents of Speculative Reasoning and Spiritual Discipline]
Many proponents of speculative reasoning claim that knowledge is attained through reasoning alone, without worship, religion, or purification of the soul. Many seekers of spiritual attainment likewise claim that spiritual discipline alone yields knowledge (4), without study, reasoning, or reflection upon the Quran and hadith.