When allegiance was given to him in Madinah, he declared himself responsible for his words and their truth, saying that one whose eye of reflection has clearly seen past punishments is restrained by piety from plunging into doubtful matters. He warned that trials like those at the Prophet’s advent had returned: people would be overturned, sifted like grain and stirred like a pot until the low became high and the high low. He likened sins to unruly horses whose bridles have been removed, bearing their riders into Hell, and piety to tamed mounts whose reins are in their riders’ hands, taking them calmly into Paradise. Truth and falsehood each have their people; if falsehood is many it has often been so, and if truth is few it may still prevail after being few. The straight middle way is flanked by paths of misguidance, and upon it stand the eternal Book and the traces of prophethood. Whoever lies in claim is destroyed, whoever forges is thwarted, and whoever confronts the truth perishes. He urges people to remain in their homes, reconcile their disputes, hasten to repentance, praise only their Lord and blame only their own souls.