and Shaykh al-Islām Abū ‘Uthmān al-Sābūnī, among others.

Section

Abū al-Hasan ‘Alī ibn Ismā‘īl al-Ash‘arī said in his well-known book al-Ibāna (The Elucidation), after the introductory address:

“Section Explaining the Views of the People of Deviation and Innovation

To proceed: Many of those who deviate from the truth, among the Mu‘tazila and the Qadariyya, have been led by their desires to follow blindly their leaders and those who preceded them. They have thus interpreted the Quran according to their own opinions, offering an interpretation for which Allah has revealed no authority and established no proof, and which they have not transmitted from the Messenger of the Lord of all worlds or from the early predecessors. They have contradicted the reports narrated by the Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—from the Prophet of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—concerning seeing Allah with one’s own eyes. Reports concerning this have come through various channels, and the traditions have been mass-transmitted,