Darʾ Taʿâroud al-ʿAql wa-n-Naql - Ibn Taimiya - (2/246)

For, after recounting his answer to Bishr concerning the scriptural texts Bishr had cited as evidence, such as Allah’s words,

“Allah is the Creator of all things” [al-Zumar: 62],

and His words,

“Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Quran” [al-Zukhruf: 3],

he said:

“Bishr said: ‘Commander of the Faithful, I have many arguments to present, but he argues from the text of revelation, whereas I argue through reasoning and analogy. Let him stop demanding that I rely on the text of revelation and debate me on another basis. Unless he immediately abandons his position, retracts it, adopts mine, and acknowledges that the Quran is created, my blood may lawfully be shed.’”

‘Abd al-‘Azīz related that he asked Bishr to debate him through reasoning and analogy and to stop demanding that he rely on the text of revelation—until he said:

“‘Abd al-‘Azīz said: ‘Bishr, will you question me, or shall I question you?’

Bishr replied:

وذلك أنه قال بعد أن ذكر جوابه لبشر فيما احتج به بشر من النصوص مثل قوله تعالى {الله خالق كل شيء} [الزمر: ٦٢] ، وقوله تعالى: {إنا جعلناه قرآنا عربيا} [الزخرف: ٣] ، قال: (فقال بشر: يا أمير المؤمنين عندي أشياء كثيرة، إلا أنه يقول بنص التنزيل، وأنا أقول بالنظر والقياس، فليدع ما مطالبتي بنص التنزيل، ويناظرني بغيره؟، فإن لم يدع قوله ويرجع عنه ويقول بقولي ويقر بخلق القرآن الساعة وإلا فدمي حلال) . وذكر عبد العزيز أنه طلب من بشر أن يناظره على وجه النظر والقياس ويدع مطالبته بنص التنزيل - إلى أن قال: (فقال عبد العزيز: يا بشر، تسألني أم أسألك؟ فقال بشر: