{Indeed, the hypocrites [seek to] deceive God, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering God except a little, wavering between them, [belonging] neither to these nor to those. And whoever God leaves astray—never will you find for him a way.} (An-Nisa: 142–143).

Al-Sayyid Abu Sa'id—may God sanctify him—guided us to this meaning by his saying:

"It is not permissible for the believer to use from the exoteric except the amount by which he conceals the esoteric, lest the authority of doubt seize him and he becomes among the waverers—neither with these nor with those."

This indicates that the use of that small amount is only for concealment (tastur) and dissimulation (taqiyyah).

This is supported by His Almighty’s saying:

{Then when Talut (Saul) 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 scoops a handful with his hand."} (Al-Baqarah: 249).