If someone says:

“This principle was set out by such men as Abū al-Hudhayl al-ʿAllāf, Abū Ishāq al-Nazzām, and al-Jahm ibn Safwān. They were followed in this by such men as Abū ʿAlī, Abū Hāshim, ʿAbd al-Jabbār ibn Ahmad, Abū al-Husayn al-Basrī, and others.

“Others agreed with them on the validity of this method—namely, the impossibility of a beginningless succession of events—including Muhammad ibn Karrām, Ibn al-Haytham, and others; Abū al-Hasan al-Ashʿarī, al-Qādī Abū Bakr, Abū al-Maʿālī, al-Qādī Abū Yaʿlā, Ibn ʿAqīl, Ibn al-Zāghūnī, Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Māzarī, al-Qādī Abū Bakr ibn al-ʿArabī, and others; indeed, even al-Sharīf al-Murtadā and other leading Shiʿi scholars like him. These men—and many times as many others—use this method of argument, even though it originated with al-Jahm ibn Safwān, Abū al-Hudhayl al-ʿAllāf, and others.”

The person who says this should be told:

Muslims who hold any of these men in esteem do so only because of the religion of Islam he upheld, in accordance with what Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, brought. Each of these men made commendable efforts to defend those aspects of Islam that he defended and to refute groups opposed to what the Messenger brought. They are therefore commended and praised for their efforts in obedience to Allah and His Messenger, and for bringing to light sound knowledge that accords with what the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, brought and exposes the falsehood of those who opposed him. Yet every one of these men, and even those superior to them, has erred in certain matters.