able. I can say even that their translation is impossible. Anyone who doubts this should refer to the Twenty-Fifth Word. What they call translations are abbreviated, deficient approximations. How can such approximations be compared with the living, true meanings of the Qur’an’s verses, which have many aspects of ramification?
Ninth Matter
[An important, confidential matter, and a mystery related to sainthood.]
The largest group in the World of Islam, the people of truth and moderation, called the Ahl al-Sunna wa’l-Jama‘at or Sunnis, have preserved the truths of the Qur’an and faith by following to the letter the illustrious practices (T. sünnet; Ar. sunna) of the Prophet (UWBP) within the bounds of moderation. The great majority of the saints have emerged from within this sphere. Others have appeared outside it and on a path opposed to some of the Sunnis’ principles and rules. Observers of this latter group of saints have divided into two groups:
One group has denied their sainthood because they oppose the Sunnis’ principles. This group has even gone so far as to declare some of those saints unbelievers.
The other group consists of their followers. They accept their sainthood and say: “The truth is not restricted to the Sunnis’ way.” They have formed a group of innovators and have taken the path of misguidance. They do not know that everyone who is rightly-guided cannot be a guide. Their shaikhs are to be excused for their mistakes because they are ecstatics, but their followers may not be excused.
As for the middle group, they do not deny the saints’ sainthood, but do not accept their ways and paths. They say: “Any things they say that are opposed to the principles [of religion] are either metaphorical utterances the meaning of which is not known, or they [the saints] are in error, being overcome by their inward states.”
Unfortunately, intending to protect the Sunni way, the first group, especially literalist scholars, have denied saints of great importance and been compelled to accuse them of misguidance. While the saints’ supporters, which form the second group, have abandoned the right path due to their excessive good will towards shaikhs of that sort; they have fallen into innovation, and even misguidance.