A summary of the core principles of Ahl al-Sunnah:
applying a general description may be qualified by other textual evidence;
applying a description to a group does not necessarily mean the judgment applies universally to all of them,
but may rather be intended to indicate that it is only a predominant characteristic.
Thus, the saying of Allah the Exalted:
“The wandering Arabs are more hard in disbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to be ignorant of the limits which Allah hath revealed unto His messenger. And Allah is Knower, Wise.” (9:97)
“The wandering Arabs are more hard in disbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to be ignorant of the limits which Allah hath revealed unto His messenger. And Allah is Knower, Wise.” (9:97)
means that this is what predominantly occurs among them.
This has been explained by their distance from sacred knowledge,
“The wandering Arabs are more hard in disbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to be ignorant of the limits which Allah hath revealed unto His messenger. And Allah is Knower, Wise.” (9:97)
which stems from the nature of their life in the desert, far removed from the centers of learning.
The evidence that this ruling is predominant rather than universal
is the subsequent statement of Allah the Exalted:
“And of the wandering Arabs there is he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day, and taketh that which he expendeth and also the prayers of the messenger as acceptable offerings in the sight of Allah. Lo! verily it is an acceptable offering for them. Allah will bring them into His mercy. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (9:99)
“And of the wandering Arabs there is he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day, and taketh that which he expendeth and also the prayers of the messenger as acceptable offerings in the sight of Allah. Lo! verily it is an acceptable offering for them. Allah will bring them into His mercy. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (9:99)
“And of the wandering Arabs there is he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day, and taketh that which he expendeth and also the prayers of the messenger as acceptable offerings in the sight of Allah. Lo! verily it is an acceptable offering for them. Allah will bring them into His mercy. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (9:99)
“And of the wandering Arabs there is he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day, and taketh that which he expendeth and also the prayers of the messenger as acceptable offerings in the sight of Allah. Lo! verily it is an acceptable offering for them. Allah will bring them into His mercy. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (9:99)
"Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."
For He excepted a group among the Bedouins,
specifying them after the general statement.