Sufyān ath-Thawrī on Importance of Conforming to the Sunnah

قَالَ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللَّٰهُ: لا يَسْتَقِيمُ قَوْلٌ إِلا بِعَمَلٍ، وَلا يَسْتَقِيمُ قَوْلٌ وَعَمَلٌ إِلا بِنِيَّةٍ، وَلا يَسْتَقِيمُ قَوْلٌ وَعَمَلٌ وَنِيَّةٌ إِلا بِمُوَافَقَةِ السُّنَّةِ

Sufyān ath-Thawrī (may Allāh have mercy upon him) said:

“No saying is proper unless accompanied with action and no saying and action is proper unless accompanied with intention, and no saying, action and intention is proper unless they are consistent with the sunnah.”