Refer also to p. 193 of his “Qawāʿid” for further examples of his attacks on the ḥadīth scholars, to his marginal notes on “al-Takmīl” (pp. 21, 30, 31, 142, 183, 188), and to his biographical sketch of al-Hārith al-Muḥāsibī in the treatise “al-Mustarshidīn” (pp. 13 and 38–39 of the introduction); yet Abu Ghuddah did not reply to him with so much as a single word!
4 – His obstinate insistence that faith neither increases nor decreases—out of partisanship for his Ḥanafism and Kawtharism—runs counter to unequivocal Qurʾanic verses, sound ḥadīths, and the statements of the early generations, and, more recently, even to the view of the commentator on al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah whom Abu Ghuddah himself extolled, rightly describing him as “a man of thoroughness, precision, and a manifest, well-known imamate.” It is, however, a word of truth by which falsehood is intended. The proof is his persistent refusal to follow that commentator on this point among the seven issues about which I asked his position; he evaded any answer, fearing that his true stance would be exposed to those adherents of pure monotheism who still think well of him. For were he to side with them or with the truth, his own supporters—who value him only for his sectarian zeal—would cast him aside. Hence he preferred silence, so as not to embroil himself with either side. This is also why he kept quiet about Imām Ibn al-Qayyim’s explicit affirmation that the doctrine whereby faith increases and decreases is correct and represents the consensus of the Salaf, a consensus reported by al-Shāfiʿī and others; Abu Ghuddah offered no comment at all! (1)
5 – He likewise would not agree with Imām al-Ṭaḥāwī’s statement: “The Qurʾān is the speech of Allah; it issued from Him, without modality, as utterance. He revealed it to His Messenger as revelation, and the believers affirmed this as absolute truth, being certain that it is genuinely the speech of Allah, uncreated like the speech of creatures. Allah has never ceased speaking whenever He wills*, whenever He wills, and however He wills, and that He speaks…"