ʿAbbās:

“Your Book is the most recent revelation from the Most Merciful, pure and unadulterated.”

Whoever reflects on the statements of the renowned imams of the Sunnah concerning this subject will recognize that they were the most discerning in their examination and the most knowledgeable about authentic transmitted evidence and clear rational argument in this field. Their statements accord with both the revealed texts and reason. Thus, they harmonize rather than differ, and agree rather than contradict one another. Those who opposed them failed to understand the true meaning of the statements of the early generations and the imams, and consequently failed to grasp the true import of the revealed texts and reason. Their paths diverged, and they came to disagree concerning the Book and to oppose it. Allah Most High has said:

“Indeed, those who differ over the Book are in extreme dissension.” (al-Baqarah: 176)

For this reason, Imam Ahmad said at the beginning of his preface to his work refuting the heretics and the Jahmiyyah:

“Praise be to Allah, who has preserved, in every interval between messengers, a remnant of scholars who call those who have gone astray to guidance and patiently endure at their hands