Back to search

Does the ḥadīth mentioned in al-Bukhārī about the servant who found his riding animal mean that words spoken in a state of "spiritual intoxication" are excused?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Abu Yazid al-Bistami is Tayfur ibn Isa. Al-Dhahabi narrated many of his shatahat (ecstatic utterances), the outward meaning of which appears to be disbelief and heresy, such as "Glory be to Me!" (Subhani) and "There is nothing in this cloak but Allah." Some scholars judged him to be corrupt in belief and an innovator, while others excused him and interpreted his sayings as expressions uttered in a state of istilam (spiritual rapture) and absence of intellect. Ibn Taymiyyah held that the utmost one can say about someone from whom such words emanate is that he is excused, not that his statements are true or evidence of wilayah (sainthood) or knowledge. The person who utters them is excused if the absence of intellect is involuntary; however, if it is intentional, he is not excused. The best guidance is the guidance of the Companions, from whom such words were not narrated due to the completeness of their intellects and their adherence to the Sharia.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy