do not turn away from it. And adhere to the straight path, for it is Islam. Do not deviate from the path to the right or to the left. Follow the sunnah of your Prophet. Beware of these desires. Reflect on the words of Abū al-ʿĀliyah, how significant they are, and consider the time in which he warned against desires, which if followed, one would turn away from Islam. He interprets Islam as the sunnah, and his fear for the prominent followers and their scholars from deviating from the sunnah and the Book clarifies the meaning of Allāh's words: "When his Lord said to him, 'Submit'" (Sūrah al-Baqarah, 2:131). And His saying: "And Abraham enjoined it upon his sons and Jacob, [saying], 'O my sons, indeed Allāh has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims'" (Sūrah al-Baqarah, 2:132). And His saying: "And who would be averse to the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself?" (Sūrah al-Baqarah, 2:130). And similar foundational principles which are the essence of the foundations, yet people are heedless of them. Understanding this clarifies the meaning of the ḥadīths in this chapter and their likes; as for the person who reads them and their likes while feeling secure and assured that they do not apply to him, thinking they were for people who have perished. "Then did they feel secure from the plan of Allāh? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allāh except the losing people" (Sūrah al-Aʿrāf, 7:99). Ibn Masʿūd (raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhu) said: "The Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) drew a line for us. Then he said: This is the path of Allāh. Then he drew lines to the right and to the left. Then he said: These are paths, on each path there is a devil calling to it, and he recited: 'And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way'" (Sūrah al-Anʿām, 6:153). Narrated by Aḥmad and al-Nasāʾī.