214 - 'Ali ibn 'Isa ibn al-Walid reported to me that Hanbal narrated to them, saying: I said to Abu 'Abd Allah [Ahmad ibn Hanbal]: Rabah passed by Abu 'Afif and a discussion took place between them. Rabah said to Abu 'Afif: "You bear false witness five times every day and night." Abu 'Afif replied to him, regarding that as a grave matter: "Woe to you, how so?" He said: "You testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, [implying] that he is merely a messenger [and nothing more]." Abu 'Abd Allah [Ahmad] then said: "May Allah fight him! He has rejected Allah's command and His word, and he has disbelieved in the Quran and denied it. This is clear disbelief in Allah, a rejection of Allah the Almighty and Majestic, and a calling of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, a liar." Then Abu 'Abd Allah said: "I have known of sayings held by these people, but I did not think that anyone would hold them or use them as an argument." He spoke words and used them as an argument, which I have not recorded here."