their reason, and proceeded to make the Book conform to it. When the Sunnah confronted them with further clarification refuting their assertions, they cast suspicion upon its transmitters and turned away from it.”

He said:

“As for the people of the Sunnah, their fundamental beliefs are based on the Book and the Sunnah. Those among them who engaged in rational argument did so only to refute the position of those who claimed that these beliefs were not rationally sound.”

Further on, al-Bayhaqī said:

“All of this indicates that the theological disputation condemned is only that of the followers of innovation which contradicts the Book and the Sunnah. As for theological discourse that accords with the Book and the Sunnah and is elucidated through reason and reflection, it is commendable and desirable when needed. Al-Shāfi‘ī and others among our imams—may Allah be pleased with them—engaged in it.”

He said:

“‘Abd Allāh ibn Yazīd ibn Hurmuz, the teacher of Mālik ibn Anas, who was al-Shāfi‘ī’s teacher, was well versed in theological disputation and in refuting the followers of deviant doctrines.”

It was also related from Ya‘qūb ibn Sufyān’s History, on the authority of Ibn Wahb:

“He said: