His saying, the Almighty: "How are they deluded?"

[6652] Abu Zur‘ah narrated to us, Minjab ibn al-Harith narrated to us, Bishr ibn ‘Umarah narrated to us, from Abu Rawq, from al-Dahhak, from Ibn ‘Abbas regarding His saying: "How are they deluded (anna yu'fakun)?" He said: How are they diverted? It was also narrated from Abu Malik the same.

His saying, the Almighty: "That which possesses for you neither harm nor benefit."

[6653] My father narrated to us, Abu Hudhayfah narrated to us, Shibl narrated to us, from Ibn Abi Najih, from Mujahid, regarding "neither harm nor benefit," he said: Harm is misguidance.

[6654] Muhammad ibn al-‘Abbas narrated to us, Muhammad ibn ‘Amr narrated to us, Salamah narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn Ishaq: "The All-Hearing (al-Sami‘)," meaning, Hearing what they say.

[6655] And through the same chain from Muhammad ibn Ishaq: "The All-Knowing (al-‘Alim)," meaning, Knowing what they conceal.

His saying, the Almighty: "Say, O People of the Scripture, do not exceed limits in your religion other than the truth."

[The First Aspect]

[6656] My father narrated to us, ‘Isa ibn Yunus al-Ayli narrated to us, al-Walid narrated to us, from Khulayd, from Qatadah, regarding His saying: "Do not exceed limits in your religion," he says: Do not innovate.

[The Second Aspect]

[6657] Abu Yazid al-Qaratisi reported to me in writing: Asbagh ibn al-Faraj narrated to us, who said: I heard ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayd ibn Aslam saying: Regarding His saying: "O People of the Scripture, do not exceed limits in your religion," he said: Exceeding limits (ghuluw) is departing from the truth. Among what they exceeded limits in was that they claimed for Allah a companion and a child.

My father narrated to us, Ahmad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman narrated to us, ‘Abd Allah ibn Abi Ja‘far narrated to us, from his father, from al-Rabi‘ ibn Anas, who said: There was a ruler who stood over them and adhered to the Book and the Sunnah for a time. Then Satan came to him and said: 'You are only following a trace or an affair that was performed before you, so you are not praised for it. Rather, innovate an affair from yourself and call to it, and compel the people to follow it.' So he did. Then he remembered his actions after a time and desired to repent, so he cast off his authority and his kingdom and desired to worship. He remained in his worship for days, then he was approached and it was said to him: 'If you had repented for a sin you committed between yourself and your Lord, perhaps you would be forgiven. But so-and-so, and so-and-so, and so-and-so went astray because of your path until they departed the world while they were upon misguidance. How can you provide for their guidance? There is no repentance for you ever.' So it is regarding him that we heard, and in such cases as his, this verse: "O People of the Scripture, do not exceed limits in your religion other than the truth, and do not follow the inclinations of a people who had gone astray before and misled many and have strayed from the straight path."