= Makhluq, a large volume indicative of the author’s extensive knowledge in the field of athar (traditions). He died in Mecca in 444 AH. See: Al-Ansab by al-Sim’ani, vol. 13, pp. 279–281; Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala by al-Dhahabi, vol. 17, pp. 654–657; Shatharat al-Dhahab by Ibn al-Imad, vol. 3, pp. 271–272. (1) A refutation of those who denied the letter (harf) and the sound (sawt), critically edited by Muhammad Bakrim ibn Abdallah as a Master’s thesis at the Islamic University of Madinah. See the passage on p. 168. (2) Barqa (with an open r and q): a large district of cities and villages between Alexandria and Ifriqiya, peacefully conquered by ‘Amr ibn al-‘As in 21 AH; a number of scholars are known by the nisbah al-Barqi. See Mu‘jam al-Buldan by Yaqut al-Hamawi, vol. 1, pp. 388–389; al-Rawd al-Mi‘tar by al-Himyari, p. 91. (3) He is Abu Sa‘id Khalaf ibn ‘Umar—others say ‘Uthman ibn ‘Umar or ‘Uthman ibn Khalaf—of Kairouan, the leading imam of his time in jurisprudence (fiqh) and piety (wara‘), known as the instructor of jurists; none was more memorized in his era. He died in 371 AH. See al-Dibaj al-Madhhab by Ibn Farhun, vol. 1, p. 347; Tartib al-Madarik by ‘Iyad, vol. 2, pp. 488–491. (4) The text between the quotation marks is missing in manuscript S. (5) In the treatise it reads: ‘aqama al-Ash‘ari. (6) Originally it read waraja‘ ila (“he referred back to”). The restored reading is supported by MSS S and T, the treatise, and Dar’ Ta'arrud al-‘Aql wa’l-Naql. (7) Abu Nasr said: “An addition by the Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him)—the text is continuous with what precedes in the treatise.”