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Concerning the Claim of the Innovators: My Heart Has Spoke to Me from My Lord

Imām Ibn al-Qayyim

Insight into the difference in etiquette between the people of sunnah and the innovators in how they approach matters of the heart.

Imām Ibn Al-Qayyim [d. 751 AH] said: 

“As for what many of the companions of fanciful imagination and ignorance [from the people of bidʿah] say: My heart narrates to me from my Lord. It is true that their heart has spoken to them but [we pose the question] from whom? [Is it] from their shayṭān or from their Lord? For if they say: my heart has spoken to me from my Lord they would have ascribed speech to one whose identity is unknown to them and thus is an outright lie. The muḥaddith of this ummah would never say such a thing, nor would he deign to utter such words. For Allāh is the one who has granted him refuge from such speech. Rather, the scribe [of ʿUmar] once wrote‘This is what Allāh has revealed to Amīr al-Muʾminīn, if it is the truth then it is indeed from Allāh, but if it is a mistake then it is from ʿUmar, and Allāh and His messenger are innocent from it. ’And [ʿUmar] said concerning [the issue] of kalālah [one having neither descendants nor ascendants as heirs]:

I say with regards to it what I hold to be my opinion, if it is correct then it is from Allāh, but if it is incorrect then it is from myself and from shayṭān.’
Such is the speech of the one who the Prophet (ﷺ) testified as being a muḥaddith. You will see the [people of innovation from the] Ittiḥādī, the Ḥulūlī, the Ibāḥī, Al-Shaṭṭāḥ [Ṣūfī], and Samāʿī publicly declaring lies and falsehood. They say: my heart has narrated to me from my Lord. So look at the vast difference between the two speakers and their levels, and the difference in their speech and constitutions. Give each its right, and do not make that which is contaminated the same as that which is pure.”

Source: Al-Tafsīr al-Qayyim: 37
Translated by: Riyāḍ al-Kanadī

Published: January 9, 2023
Edited: January 9, 2023