[The Position of the People of Truth on several questions over which the innovators differed]:

He continued: “We shall lay out the fundamentals of the Sunnah and the points of dispute that have been transmitted regarding what we hold—matters in which the people of deviation have opposed us, and those in which we and the hadith scholars from among the affirmers are in agreement, Allah willing.”

He then addressed the controversy surrounding the Imamate, adducing proofs for it, and cited the consensus of the Emigrants and the Helpers on giving precedence to Abu Bakr al-Ṣiddīq—may Allah be pleased with him—and on his being the most excellent member of the community.