according to the saying of the truthful Master to Mufaddal ibn Umar (peace be upon them both): "O Mufaddal, accustom yourselves to these commands in private so that you do not become heedless of them among the public."

But what we have been warned against is solely the belief and religious adherence to them, according to his saying to Mufaddal (peace be upon them both): "O Mufaddal, beware of performing anything of the entities of destruction (thawat al-rada)." I said: "My Master, and what are the entities of destruction?" He said: "These Opposites (Al-Adad)." I said: "And what are these opposites?" He said: "Fast, prayer, pilgrimage, or jihad; whoever performs them as a matter of religious belief has taken another god besides Allah."

Just as it is never permissible to adhere to them as a religion or believe in them, likewise it is not permissible to abandon them or be negligent with them among the Opposites [the public/non-initiates]. We have been urged to perform them for practice so that we do not forget them when there is a need for them.

Prince Hasan ibn Makzun (may Allah sanctify him) excelled in what he established regarding the knowledge of the inward meanings of Prayer, its requirements, and its eleven indications in the third chapter of his treatise titled Tazkiyat al-Nafs (Purification of the Soul), by his saying: