(1) This is one of the follies of the Jahmiyyah, the Mu‘tazilah, and their followers, based on their belief that the Quran is created. Al-Dārimī said in al-Radd ‘alā al-Marīsī: “Al-Marīsī held a view concerning Allah’s names similar to his view concerning the Quran. He regarded the Quran as created human speech, claiming that Allah had not spoken a single letter of it. Likewise, he regarded Allah’s names as human inventions.” He went on to say: “This claim concerning Allah’s names is a major tenet of the Jahmiyyah, upon which they based their inquisition and founded their errors, misleading the naive and foolish.” Their specious argument was “that if they affirmed ninety-nine names for Allah, they would be affirming ninety-nine gods.” See Sharh usūl al-i‘tiqād, 2:215. A number of the early Muslim authorities declared them unbelievers. Ishāq ibn Rāhawayh said: “They—the Jahmiyyah—went so far as to say that Allah’s names are created … This is outright unbelief.” Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: “Whoever claims that Allah’s names are created is an unbeliever.” Sharh usūl i‘tiqād ahl al-sunnah wa-l-jamā‘ah, 2:214. Khalaf ibn Hishām al-Muqri’ said: “Whoever says that Allah’s names are created—his unbelief is clearer to me than this sun.” Sharh usūl i‘tiqād ahl al-sunnah, 2:207.