1103 - Abu Bakr al-Marwudhi informed us, saying: I saw Abu 'Abd al-Rahim al-Juzajani in the presence of Abu 'Abd Allah (Ahmad ibn Hanbal), and Abu 'Abd Allah had mentioned him, saying: "His father was a Murji'i, or he said: 'A person of ra'y (discretionary opinion),' but as for Abu 'Abd al-Rahim, he praised him." He had written to Abu 'Abd Allah from Khurasan asking him about faith (iman). Abu Bakr al-Marwudhi said: Abu 'Ali al-Husayn ibn Hamid al-Naysaburi narrated to me, saying: I heard Abu 'Abd al-Rahim al-Juzajani saying: "I wrote to Abu 'Abd Allah Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal, asking him about the arguments used by a group of the Murji'ah and others among the people of innovation in our land." He said: "He replied to me regarding that, may Allah be pleased with him: 'In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. May Allah make things good for us and for you in all affairs, and may He protect you and us from every evil by His mercy.' And 'Abd Allah ibn 'Ubayd Allah al-Tarasusi informed us, saying: Muhammad ibn Hatim al-Marwazi narrated to us, saying: Abu 'Abd al-Rahim Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn al-Jarrah al-Juzajani narrated to us, saying: Ahmad ibn Hanbal wrote to me: 'May Allah make things good for us and for you in all affairs, and may He protect you and us from every evil by His mercy. They both agreed from this point onward: Your letter reached me, in which you mention what is mentioned regarding the arguments of those among the Murji'ah who argue. Know, may Allah have mercy on you, that disputation in religion is not the path of the People of the Sunnah, and that the interpretation (ta'wil) of whoever interprets the Qur'an without a Sunnah that points to its meaning, or the meaning of what Allah—the Almighty and Majestic—intended, or an athar (report).' Al-Marwudhi said: 'Or a report from the Companions of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. That is recognized by what has come from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, or from his Companions, for they witnessed the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and witnessed his revelation, what the Qur'an related to him, what was meant by it, what he intended, and whether it was specific or general. As for whoever interprets it based on its literal meaning without evidence from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, nor from any of his Companions, this is the interpretation of the people of innovation; for the verse may be specific while its ruling is a general ruling, or its literal meaning may be general, yet it was only intended for a specific matter. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is the one who explains the Book of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, and he and his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, know more about that than us, due to their having witnessed the affair and what was intended by it. For a verse may be specific, such as His saying: "Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females" [al-Nisa': 11], and its literal meaning is general, and that whoever the name "child" applies to, he is entitled to what Allah—Blessed and Exalted—ordained. Then the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, came [to clarify] that a Muslim does not inherit from a disbeliever. And it was narrated from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—though it is not established—that from his Companions, they did not grant inheritance to a killer. Thus, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was the one who explained the Book that the verse only intended the Muslim, not the disbeliever. Whoever applies it according to its literal meaning, it would be incumbent upon him to grant inheritance to whoever the name "child" applies to, whether he is a disbeliever or a killer. Likewise are the rulings of inheritance from parents and others, along with many verses that would make the writing long. The Ummah has only employed the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and his Companions, except for those among the people of innovation, the Khawarij, and those who resemble them who reject that; for you have seen what they have deviated into. As for whoever claims that faith is mere verbal declaration (iqrar), then what does he say regarding knowledge (ma'rifa)? Is knowledge needed along with declaration? And is it necessary that he be a believer (musaddiq) in what he declared?' Muhammad ibn Hatim said: 'And is it necessary that he be a believer in what he knows? If he claims that it requires knowledge along with declaration, then he has claimed it consists of two things. And if he claims that it requires that he be one who declares and one who believes in what he knows, then it is three things. If he denies and says: "It does not require knowledge and belief," then he has spoken a grave matter. Likewise is action along with these things. The delegation of 'Abd al-Qays asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, about faith, and he said: "Bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, giving zakat, fasting Ramadan, and giving the fifth of the war booty." He included all of that as part of faith.'"
١١٠٣ - وَأَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ الْمَرُّوذِيُّ، قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ الْجُوزَجَانِيَّ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَقَدْ كَانَ ذَكَرَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، فَقَالَ: كَانَ أَبُوهُ مُرْجِئًا، أَوْ قَالَ: صَاحِبَ رَأْيٍ، وَأَمَّا أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ، فَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، وَقَدْ كَانَ كَتَبَ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مِنْ خُرَاسَانَ يَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ. قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الْمَرُّوذِيُّ: فَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ حَامِدٍ النَّيْسَابُورِيُّ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ الْجُوزَجَانِيُّ يَقُولُ: كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ أَسْأَلُهُ فِيمَا كَانُوا يَحْتَجُّونَ بِبَلَدِنَا، قَوْمٌ مِنَ الْمُرْجِئَةِ وَغَيْرِهِمْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبِدَعِ، قَالَ: فَأَجَابَنِي فِي ⦗٢٣⦘ ذَلِكَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: " بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا، وَسَلَّمَكَ وَإِيَّانَا مِنْ كُلِّ سُوءٍ بِرَحْمَتِهِ. وَأَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ الطَّرَسُوسِيُّ، قَالَ: ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ الْمَرْوَزِيُّ، قَالَ: ثنا أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْجَرَّاحِ الْجُوزَجَانِيُّ، قَالَ: كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ: " أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا، وَسَلَّمَكَ وَإِيَّانَا مِنْ كُلِّ سُوءٍ بِرَحْمَتِهِ، وَاتَّفَقَا مِنْ هَاهُنَا، أَتَانِي كِتَابُكَ تَذْكُرُ فِيهِ مَا يُذْكَرُ مِنَ احْتِجَاجِ مَنِ احْتَجَّ مِنَ الْمُرْجِئَةِ، وَاعْلَمْ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ أَنَّ الْخُصُومَةَ فِي الدِّينِ لَيْسَتْ مِنْ طَرِيقِ أَهْلِ السُّنَّةِ، وَأَنَّ تَأْوِيلَ مَنْ تَأَوَّلَ الْقُرْآنَ بِلَا سُنَّةٍ تَدُلُّ عَلَى مَعْنَاهَا أَوْ مَعْنَى مَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَوْ أَثَرٍ، قَالَ الْمَرُّوذِيُّ: أَوْ أَثَرٍ عَنْ أَصْحَابِ الرَّسُولِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَيُعْرَفُ ذَلِكَ بِمَا جَاءَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَوْ عَنْ أَصْحَابِهِ، فَهُمْ شَاهَدُوا النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَشَهِدُوا تَنْزِيلَهُ، وَمَا قَصَّهُ لَهُ الْقُرْآنُ، وَمَا عُنِيَ بِهِ، وَمَا أَرَادَ بِهِ، وَخَاصٌّ هُوَ أَوْ عَامٌّ، فَأَمَّا مَنْ تَأَوَّلَهُ عَلَى ظَاهِرٍ بِلَا دَلَالَةٍ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَلَا أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ، فَهَذَا تَأْوِيلُ أَهْلِ الْبِدَعِ، لِأَنَّ الْآيَةَ قَدْ تَكُونُ خَاصَّةً وَيَكُونُ حُكْمُهَا حُكْمًا عَامَّا، وَيَكُونُ ظَاهِرُهَا عَلَى الْعُمُومِ، فَإِنَّمَا قَصَدَتْ لِشَيْءٍ بِعَيْنِهِ، وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْمُعَبِّرُ عَنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَمَا أَرَادَ وَأَصْحَابُهُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمُ أَعْلَمُ بِذَلِكَ مِنَّا لِمُشَاهَدَتِهِمُ الْأَمْرَ وَمَا أُرِيدَ بِذَلِكَ، فَقَدْ تَكُونُ الْآيَةُ خَاصَّةً، مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِ: {يُوصِيكُمُ اللَّهُ فِي أَوْلَادِكُمْ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنْثَيَيْنِ} [النساء: ١١] وَظَاهِرُهَا عَلَى الْعُمُومِ، وَإِنَّ مَنْ وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ اسْمُ الْوَلَدِ فَلَهُ مَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى، فَجَاءَتْ سُنَّةُ رَسُولِ ⦗٢٤⦘ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ لَا يَرِثُ مُسْلِمٌ كَافِرًا، وَرُوِي عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَلَيْسَ بِالثَّبْتِ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ عَنْ أَصْحَابِهِ أَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يُوَرِّثُوا قَاتِلًا، فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ هُوَ الْمُعَبِّرُ عَنِ الْكِتَابِ أَنَّ الْآيَةَ إِنَّمَا قَصَدَتْ لِلْمُسْلِمِ لَا لِلْكَافِرِ، وَمَنْ حَمَلَهَا عَلَى ظَاهِرِهَا لَزِمَهُ أَنْ يُوَرِّثَ مَنْ وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ اسْمُ الْوَلَدِ كَافِرًا كَانَ أَوْ قَاتِلًا، فَكَذَلِكَ أَحْكَامُ الْمَوَارِيثِ مِنَ الْأَبَوَيْنِ وَغَيْرُ ذَلِكَ، مَعَ آيٍ كَثِيرٍ يَطُولُ بِهِ الْكِتَابُ، وَإِنَّمَا اسْتَعْمَلَتِ الْأُمَّةُ السُّنَّةَ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ، إِلَّا مَنْ دَفَعَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبِدَعِ وَالْخَوَارِجِ وَمَا يُشْبِهُهُمْ، فَقَدْ رَأَيْتَ إِلَى مَا قَدْ خَرَجُوا، وَأَمَّا مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الْإِيمَانَ الْإِقْرَارُ، فَمَا يَقُولُ فِي الْمَعْرِفَةِ؟ هَلْ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى الْمَعْرِفَةِ مَعَ الْإِقْرَارِ؟ وَهَلْ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى أَنْ يَكُونَ مُصَدِّقًا بِمَا أَقَرَّ، قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ: وَهَلْ يَحْتَاجُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مُصَدِّقًا بِمَا عَرَفَ؟، فَإِنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى الْمَعْرِفَةِ مَعَ الْإِقْرَارِ، فَقَدْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ مِنْ شَيْئَيْنِ وَإِنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ يَحْتَاجُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مُقِرًّا وَمُصَدِّقًا بِمَا عَرَفَ، فَهُوَ مِنْ ثَلَاثَةِ أَشْيَاءَ، فَإِنْ ⦗٢٥⦘ جَحَدَ وَقَالَ: لَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى الْمَعْرِفَةِ وَالتَّصْدِيقِ، فَقَدْ قَالَ عَظِيمًا، فَكَذَلِكَ الْعَمَلُ مَعَ هَذِهِ الْأَشْيَاءِ، وَقَدْ سَأَلَ وَفْدُ عَبْدِ الْقَيْسِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ، فَقَالَ: «شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَإِقَامُ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءُ الزَّكَاةِ، وَصَوْمُ رَمَضَانَ، وَأَنْ تُعْطُوا الْخُمُسَ مِنَ الْمَغْنَمِ» ، فَجَعَلَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ
