What is the ruling on quoting from the sayings of Sufis, such as the saying of Ibn Ata’ Allah: "Do not abandon dhikr (remembrance of God) because of your lack of presence with God therein, for your heedlessness to the existence of its remembrance is more severe than your heedlessness within the existence of its remembrance. Perhaps He will raise you from a remembrance accompanied by heedlessness to a remembrance accompanied by vigilance, and from a remembrance accompanied by vigilance to a remembrance accompanied by presence, and from a remembrance accompanied by presence to a remembrance accompanied by absence from all save the One remembered… and that is not difficult for Allah"?

The statement about not abandoning dhikr (remembrance of God) even with heedlessness is correct in meaning, and the one who performs it is hoped to be rewarded for it. As for Ibn 'Ata' Allah's reference to Sufi annihilation (fana'), it is not the highest of spiritual stations. Regarding quoting from the sayings of Sufis and other innovators, the principle is to avoid it if alternatives from the sayings of the People of Sunnah are available, because quoting them supports them. However, if something is only found with them, it is permissible to transmit it, while accepting the truth wherever it is found. For the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said about Satan: "He told you the truth, though he is a liar," when he directed Abu Hurairah to the Verse of the Throne (Ayat al-Kursi). Moreover, Mu'adh ibn Jabal warned against the deviation of a wise person, and that truth is accepted from whoever speaks it, for "truth is accepted from whoever speaks it."