Hakikat Kitabevi Publications No: 10 answer to an enemy of islam

Wara’ means abstention also
from doubtful actions. Al-Imâm al-Ghazâlî (d. in Tûs/Meshed,
Iran, 505/1111) wrote in his book 
Mishkât al-anwâr, “The heart is
a house for angels. Such bad habits as wrath, lust, jealousy and
arrogance are like howling dogs. Angels do not enter a place
where there are dogs. It is declared in a hadîth sherîf, 
‘Angels do
not enter a house where there are dogs or pictures.’ I do not say
– 115 –
[1] A karâma that causes one to commit a harâm is called “makr” or
“istidrâj.”

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that the word ‘house’ in this hadîth sherîf means ‘heart’ or that the
word ‘dog’ means ‘bad habit.’ I believe in their apparent meanings
and also add the meanings above. These words of mine separate
Ahl as-Sunnat wa ’l-Jamâ’a from the group of bid’a called
Bâtiniyya. Bâtinîs ignore the apparent meanings and invent
heretical meanings. If the apparent meaning of an âyat contradicts
the apparent meanings of other âyats, then its apparent meaning
must be given up, and it must be explained away (ta’wîl), that is,
the most appropriate of its meanings must be given to it. Those
who insist on giving apparent meanings when ta’wil is necessary
are called 
Hishwî. For this reason, it has been said that the Qur’ân
al-kerîm has apparent and hidden meanings. Those who always
give apparent meanings become Hishwî. Those who always give
unusual meanings become Bâtinî. Those who give both meanings
as the case requires become perfect Muslims.” Only an expert in
the bâtin (hidden) and zâhir (exterior) branches of knowledge can
understand whether or not a statement of a man of tasawwuf is
compatible with Islam. Those who do not know the meanings of
the words used by the scholars of tasawwuf cannot understand it.
Such people [like Ibn Taimiyya and Muhammad ibn ’Abd al-
Wahhâb], who are far from being perfect, suppose that Bâyazîd al-
Bistâmî’s statement, “Subhânî mâ a’zama shânî’,” is incompatible
with Islam. Muhyidîn ibn al-’Arabî explained in detail that the
meaning of that statement was kamâl-i tanzîh. A person who
disobeys Islam may perform wonders. These are called not
“karâmât” but