176 — Al-Hasan ibn Alī al-Jassās narrated to us, saying: Al-Rabī ibn Sulaymān narrated to us, saying: I heard al-Shāfiī discussing the Quran and what Hafs al-Fard used to say about it. Al-Shāfiī would call him Hafs al-Munfarid. Al-Shāfiī debated him in the presence of a governor who was then in Egypt. During the debate, al-Shāfiī—may Allah be pleased with him—said to him, “By Allah, besides whom there is no deity, you have disbelieved.” They then arose and departed, and I heard Hafs say, “By Allah, besides whom there is no deity, al-Shāfiī has exposed my blood to being shed!” Al-Rabī said: I also heard al-Shāfiī—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—say, “The Quran is the speech of Allah, uncreated. Whoever says that it is created is an unbeliever.”