And (1) Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said exactly what Mālik had said, and what Ibn al-Mubārak had said. The reports from the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—his Companions, and the rest of the scholars of the ummah on this matter are mass-transmitted (2) to anyone who traces them; scholars have produced both concise and extensive compilations on the subject. Whoever pursues those narrations will likewise know with absolute certainty that not a single letter can be cited from any one of them that contradicts this. Rather, they are all unanimous upon one word and one creed, each confirming the other, even though some were more knowledgeable than others—just as they are united in acknowledging the Prophethood of Muḥammad, peace and blessings be upon him, although among them are those who are more versed in the distinctive qualities, merits, rights, implications, reality, and attributes of Prophethood.

Never did any one of them, at any time, say: “The apparent meaning of this is not intended,” nor did anyone say: “The apparent sense (3) of this verse or (4) this ḥadith is to be diverted from its outward meaning,” even though they did say such things concerning legal verses whose general or apparent import is restricted, and they spoke about passages that seem problematic or potentially contradictory—this is well known to anyone who reflects upon it. They set forth these attributes with soundness, purity, and clarity; they did not taint them (5) with any cloudiness or deceit. Had this not been the apparent sense among the Muslims, the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—would then