Two Cautions:

The First Caution:

Al-Kawthari (d. 1371 AH)—the banner-bearer of the Jahmites and the Rafidha (Rejectionists) of his era—maligned this book with a malicious attack, as is his habit in disparaging the People of the Sunnah and their works.

Among what he said while discussing the book Ithbat al-Hadd lillahi Ta'ala (The Affirmation of a Limit for Allah the Exalted), as found in Hawashi Dhuyul Tadhkirat al-Huffadh (5/263):

'(In it, from al-Zaghuni, Abu Ya‘la, Ibn Batta, and others among those "madmen of the sane," are absurd reports that would make the "sane of the madmen" laugh. It also contains verses attributed to al-Daraqutni without any shame or fear... It is truly astonishing to see the handwriting of the Hafidh al-Jamal Ibn ‘Abd al-Hadi al-Hanbali upon a treatise like this one by al-Dashti, and his holding an audition of it for his family and close associates)!!'

He further stated: '(...We have only elaborated on this so that the reader may be clearly informed regarding the affair of these Hashwiyya (the coreless) who are enemies of the People of the Sunnah [meaning: the Ash‘aris and Maturidis!!], so that one is not deceived by the ongoing propaganda, which consists of nothing but blatant ignorance in the eyes of those with sound intellect and correct insight).'

I say: May Allah have mercy on Abu Hatim al-Razi, who said: "The sign of the people of innovation is their disparagement of the People of Narrations (Ahl al-Athar), and the sign of the heretics (zanadiqa) is their labeling the People of the Sunnah as 'Hashwiyya'; they intend thereby to invalidate the narrations." [Al-Lalaka’i (1/179)].