ibn al-Mundhir, the commentary of Abū Bakr ‘Abd al-‘Azīz, the commentary of Abū al-Shaykh al-Asbahānī, and the commentary of Abū Bakr ibn Mardawayh—as well as earlier commentaries, such as those of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ishāq ibn Ibrāhīm, Baqī ibn Makhlad, and others, and still earlier ones, such as the commentaries of ‘Abd ibn Humayd, Sunayd, ‘Abd al-Rāziq, and Wakī‘ ibn al-Jarrāh—contain almost countless passages on this subject that accord with the position of those who affirm the divine attributes. The same is true of works compiled on the Sunnah containing reports from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the Companions, and the Successors.

Abū Muhammad Harb ibn Ismā‘īl al-Kirmānī said in his well-known Collected Questions, which he transmitted from Ahmad, Ishāq, and others, including alongside them the reports he cited from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the Companions, and others. This is a substantial work, compiled in the manner of the Muwatta’ and similar collections. Near its end, in the general section, he said:

“Chapter on the Doctrinal Position: This is the position of the leading scholars, the transmitters of reports, and the people of the Sunnah who are known for their adherence to it and followed as examples in it. All the scholars I encountered from Iraq, the Hijaz, Syria, and elsewhere held this position. Whoever disagrees with any of these positions, attacks them, or disparages those who uphold them is an innovator, outside the community, who has departed from the way of the Sunnah and the path of truth. This is the position of Ahmad, Ishāq ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Makhlad, ‘Abd Allāh ibn al-Zubayr al-Humaydī, Sa‘īd ibn Mansūr, and others among those whom