(653) As for those I encountered among the Jurists of the Outward, whose doctrines and disagreements I memorized—may God protect us from them and from what they say—they are those regarding whom God the Almighty said: {And We made them leaders calling to the Fire, and on the Day of Resurrection they will not be helped}1.
Their science is the River of Talut regarding which God the Almighty said: {And when Talut set out with the soldiers, he said, "Indeed, God will test you with a river. So whoever drinks from it is not of me, and whoever does not taste it is indeed of me, except one who takes [from it] in the hollow of his hand." But they drank from it, except a [very] few of them. Then when he had crossed it along with those who believed with him, they said, "There is no capacity for us today against Goliath and his soldiers." But those who were certain that they would meet God said, "How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of God. And God is with the patient"}2. He has commanded you to take from it only what you need to use with them as Dissimulation (taqiyya) for your religion; so recognize that and act upon it.
This, my dear son, is what I hold, and he who is with me is as the poet said:
I have found you to hold a status in my heart like
that which is purified between water and wine.