Were Ibn Taymiyyah unaware of sayings by Al-Junayd, Al-Bistami, and Abu Sulayman Al-Darani that contradict his praise of them? Is the classification of Sufism into Sunni and philosophical types accurate? Was Ibn al-Qayyim a Sufi who then repented? And how do we respond to these misconceptions?

The early Sufis unanimously relied completely on the Qur'an and Sunnah, and many texts have been narrated from them to this effect, such as what Al-Junayd, Abu Sulayman al-Darani, and Sahl ibn Abdullah al-Tustari said. Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah praised the early Sufi masters, such as Al-Junayd and Abu Sulayman al-Darani, for their adherence to the Qur'an and Sunnah. As for Abu Yazid al-Bistami, what is known about the Sheikh is that apologies are made for the ecstatic utterances (shatahat) that occurred from him. The books "Qut al-Qulub" and "Al-Futuhāt al-Makkiyyah" are not among the relied-upon books. Sufism is divided into blameworthy philosophical Sufism and acceptable Sunni Sufism, which is restricted by the Qur'an and Sunnah. Contemporary Sufism includes many innovations (bid'ah), polytheistic practices (shirk), and philosophical doctrines; therefore, one must be cautious of it. Ibn al-Qayyim repented at the hands of Sheikh al-Islam from the errors he had fallen into in the field of creed.