Ma'qil said: Then I met al-Zuhri and informed him of their doctrine. He said: "Glory be to Allah! Have the people started engaging in disputations? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'The fornicator does not commit fornication while he is a believer, and the thief does not steal while he is a believer, and the wine-drinker does not drink wine while he is a believer.'"
قَالَ مَعْقِلٌ: ثُمَّ لَقِيتُ الزُّهْرِيَّ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِقَوْلِهِمْ، فَقَالَ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ أَوَقَدْ أَخَذَ النَّاسُ فِي الْخُصُومَاتِ؟ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَزْنِي الزَّانِي حِينَ يَزْنِي وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ، وَلَا يَسْرِقُ السَّارِقُ حِينَ يَسْرِقُ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ، وَلَا يَشْرَبُ الشَّارِبُ الْخَمْرَ حِينَ يَشْرَبُهَا وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ»