The opponent said:
The anafīs: It is well known that the author of the Ṭahawiyya and the one that explained it were both anafīs. Imām al-Ṭahāwī was a contemporary of al-Ash‘arī and wrote his book of creed in order to clarify the belief of Imām Abū anīfa and his companions. It is similar to what is found in al-Fiqh al-Akbar from him (Abū anīfa). They narrated from the Imām that he explicitly imputed unbelief upon the one who says that Allāh is not over the Throne or hesitates concerning it. His close student, Abū Yūsuf declared Bishr al-Marīsī an unbeliever. It is well known that the Ash‘arīs negate “highness” and deny that He—the Exalted—is upon the Throne. It is also known that their fundamentals stem from Bishr al-Marīsī.
Response:
1. To argue that the anafīs are opposed to the Ash‘arīs, the opponent mentioned Imām al-Ṭahāwī. Did he find anything in his creed that is in opposition to the creed of the Ash‘arīs? The reality of the matters is that the author and his group have problems with certain parts of Imām al-Ṭahāwī’s creed, such as his statements:
- He possesses the meaning of Lordship, even when there was nothing lorded over[Marbūb], and He possesses the meaning of Creator when there was no creation.
- Far exalted is Allāh from having limits, ends, parts, organs, and tools. He is not encompassed by the six directions like the rest of created things.
- The actions of the servants are the creation of Allāh and the acquisition [Kasb] of the servants.
So does the opponent believe in these things? We certainly hope so! He then mentioned “the one that explained it (the Ṭahawīyya)”, referring to Ibn Abī al-‘Izz al-anafī. In no way did he represent the beliefs of the overwhelming majority of anafīs, rather, he had adopted the beliefs of Ibn Taymiyya.
Having said this, why did the opponent feign ignorance of Imām Abū al-Mansūr al-Māturīdī’s works in creed, as well as those of Imām al-Nasafī, and the various explanations of it that truly represent the belief of the overwhelming majority of the anafī jurists?
2. The opponent mentioned that Imām Abū Yūsuf declared Bishr al-Marīsī an unbeliever and that the Ash‘arī’s fundamentals stem from him. From his words, it seems as if he is attempting to make it appear to the reader that Imām Abū Yūsuf and the anafīs hold the Ash‘arīs to be unbelievers or at least close to unbelief. What are these fundamentals that they took from him? How can he be the source of the Ash ‘arī’s principles, when he was accused of having beliefs close to that of the Jahmiyya, and Mu‘tazila—all the while, the Ash ‘arīs were the thorns in the throats of the Jahmiyya and Mu‘tazila? Is this how research is conducted? Is this fairness? To Allāh we belong and to Him we return!
