Then he, may Allāh have mercy on him, said: "What further clarifies this is what the sunnah has explicitly stated on this matter with much clear and evident speech, understandable even to the simple-minded layperson. Yet, this has become one of the strangest things, and knowledge and fiqh have become innovations and misguidance." His statement: "What further clarifies this—meaning, what further clarifies and elucidates this principle—is what the sunnah has explicitly stated on this matter with much clear and evident speech, understandable even to the simple-minded layperson—meaning, one whose understanding is weak and intelligence is low. Yet, this has become the strangest thing—meaning, the strangest of things—and knowledge and fiqh have become innovations and misguidance," and this is a significant deviation, for knowledge is clear, and it is the knowledge of the Book of Allāh and the sunnah of His Messenger (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) and what the righteous predecessors were upon. Anything else is ignorance. Contrary to the situation in many cases, where dissecting speech in ways not indicated by the Book and the sunnah and elaborating it in a manner that hardens the heart is considered knowledge. If someone reminds them of the words of Allāh or the words of His Messenger (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam), they say: "This is literalism, this is rigidity on the texts," and they label it with titles and descriptions that discourage people from turning to the Book and the sunnah, and embolden them to fall into innovation and call to misguidance. This is a dangerous turn and a path that a believer must beware of; for complete faith and full submission to the Prophet (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) cannot be achieved except by submitting to the texts. To the extent that a person holds the two revelations in high regard and acts upon them, will be his share and portion of knowledge and action. It is important for us—students of knowledge and those engaged in seeking knowledge—to recognize and seek out the characteristics of beneficial knowledge. Therefore, we should gather the characteristics of beneficial knowledge from the Book and the sunnah and the words of the predecessors; because within that are indications of beneficial knowledge that we should be aware of, so that we know what benefits us and we embrace it, and what does not fall within the scope of beneficial knowledge, so we occupy ourselves with other than it; for knowledge is abundant.