And this rule that he mentioned, I have not come across anyone among the imams of the Sunna and reports who explicitly stated it. The claim that many of these reports narrated from the Companions, may God be pleased with them, regarding the attributes were received from the People of the Book is something the Jahmīs and Ash'arites—the deniers of the attributes—harp on to reject the established narrations from the Companions, may God be pleased with them, in the chapters of the Sunna and creed. From them, many of the later generations picked up this specious argument, as if they realized what the imams of the Predecessors (Salaf), the Sunna, and hadith failed to realize!

Furthermore, this cannot be said regarding the Companions, may God be pleased with them, because they are the most knowledgeable of people after the prophets, peace be upon them, concerning God Almighty and the attributes that befit Him, Exalted is He. They are too scrupulous and fearful of God Almighty to describe Him with what is not established, or with what does not befit Him, Glorified and Exalted is He, or to transmit falsehood from the books of the Children of Israel regarding the Lord Almighty and remain silent about it, neither condemning it nor pointing out its falsehood!

Thus, it is obligatory to hold a good opinion of them, and not to accuse them of transmitting into our religion what they received from the Children of Israel of that which is impermissible to narrate regarding the Essence of God Almighty!! This would not be done by someone of a lower status in knowledge than the Companions, may God be pleased with them, who took knowledge from the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him, so how about them?

The judge (Qāḍī) Abū Yaʿlā said in Ibṭāl al-Taʾwīlāt (1/222) while speaking about this specious argument: "It is not permissible to suspect him of that; because it involves obfuscation in our law, which is that he narrates to them what they would think is law for us, while it is law for others, and we must exonerate the Companions, may God be pleased with them, from that." End quote.

Then, where were the imams of the Predecessors (Salaf) and the scholars of the Sunna and reports throughout all eras regarding such reports narrated from the Companions, may God be pleased with them, in the chapters of attributes and creed? Why did they not clarify the contradictions they contain against the texts of the Book and the Sunna, or an affirmation that the textual evidence rejects or testifies to?

Rather, how was it permissible for them to narrate them in the books of the Sunna and creed and remain silent about them? Indeed, even to use them as evidence against the Jahmīs, the deniers who negate the attributes?

Thus, in the acceptance of these reports by the imams of the Predecessors (Salaf) and the Sunna, and their consensus upon them regarding the attributes, the unseen matters, and many of the beliefs, is the greatest evidence in refuting this specious argument and claim from its foundation.

Furthermore, our law and previous laws regarding the attributes are the same; because the attributes of God do not differ