in Naysābūr, Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj was the one who visited him most frequently.’

When the dispute between al-Dhuhli and al-Bukhārī over the question of “utterance” (lafḍ) erupted, al-Dhuhli publicly denounced him and forbade the people to attend his lessons; as a result, almost everyone stopped going to him—everyone, that is, except Muslim.

One day al-Dhuhli declared, ‘Whoever upholds the doctrine of “utterance” has no right to attend our gathering.’

At that, Muslim placed his cloak (1) over his turban, stood up before the assembly, and sent back to al-Dhuhli everything he had written from him, loaded on the back of a camel driver (2).

Muslim openly professed the view concerning “utterance” and did not conceal it (3).

Muḥammad ibn Yūsuf the mu’adhdhin related: I heard Abū Ḥāmid ibn al-Sharqī say, ‘I was present at the session of Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā al-Dhuhli when he announced, “Whoever says, ‘My recitation of the Qur’an is created,’ must not sit in our circle.” Thereupon Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj rose and left the gathering.’

Aḥmad ibn Manṣūr al-Shīrāzī transmitted this report from Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqūb and added: ‘Aḥmad ibn Salamah followed him.’

Aḥmad ibn Manṣūr al-Shīrāzī also said: I heard Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqūb al-Akhram, who said that our companions recounted: ‘When Muslim and Aḥmad ibn Salamah walked out of al-Dhuhli’s circle, al-Dhuhli declared, “This man shall not reside in the same town with me.”’

Al-Bukhārī feared the consequences and left the city (4).

Muḥammad ibn Abī Ḥātim said: A man came to ʿAbd Allāh al-Bukhārī and said, ‘Abū ʿAbd Allāh, so-and-so has declared you a disbeliever!’

He replied, ‘The Prophet ﷺ said: “If a man says…’