926 - Abu Bakr al-Marwudhi informed us regarding this issue that he heard Abu 'Abd Allah, when he disapproved of the one who said, 'He has not compelled,' and of the one who retorted against him. Abu 'Abd Allah said: 'Whenever a man introduces an innovation, they expand upon it in their response.' He also said: 'He who retorted against them with a newly invented notion must seek forgiveness from his Lord.' He disapproved of anyone who retorted using any form of speculative theology (Kalam) when they had no preceding authority (Imam) to follow. Abu Bakr al-Marwudhi said: It was not long before Ahmad ibn 'Ali arrived from 'Ukbara, accompanied by some elders and a document from the people of 'Ukbara. I brought Ahmad ibn 'Ali in to see Abu 'Abd Allah. He said to him: 'O Abu 'Abd Allah, here is the book; hand it over to Abu Bakr so that he may tear it up, and I shall stand on the minbar of 'Ukbara and seek forgiveness from Allah, the Mighty and Majestic.' Abu 'Abd Allah then said to me: 'It is fitting that you accept and return it to him.'
٩٢٦ - وَأَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ الْمَرُّوذِيُّ، فِي هَذِهِ الْمَسْأَلَةِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، لَمَّا أَنْكَرَ عَلَى الَّذِي قَالَ: لَمْ يُجْبِرْ، وَعَلَى مَنْ رَدَّ عَلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ: كُلَّمَا ابْتَدَعَ رَجُلٌ بِدْعَةً اتَّسَعُوا فِي جَوَابِهَا، وَقَالَ: يَسْتَغْفِرُ رَبَّهُ الَّذِي رَدَّ عَلَيْهِمْ بِمُحْدَثَةٍ، وَأَنْكَرَ عَلَى مَنْ رَدَّ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ جِنْسِ الْكَلَامِ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ فِيهَا إِمَامٌ تَقَدَّمَ. قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الْمَرُّوذِيُّ: فَمَا كَانَ بِأَسْرَعَ مِنْ أَنْ قَدِمَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ مِنْ عُكْبَرَا، وَمَعَهُ شِيَخَةٌ، وَكِتَابٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ عُكْبَرا، فَأَدْخَلْتُ أَحْمَدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، هُوَ ذَا الْكِتَابُ، ادْفَعْهُ إِلَى أَبِي ⦗٥٥٣⦘ بَكْرٍ حَتَّى يُقَطِّعَهُ، وَأَنَا أَقُومُ عَلَى مِنْبَرِ عُكْبَرَا وَاسْتَغْفَرَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ لِي: يَنْبَغِي أَنْ تَقْبَلُوا وَتَرْجِعُوا لَهُ
