among them. Imam ‘Uthmān ibn Sa‘īd al-Dārimī said in his Refutation of al-Marīsī and His Followers:

“The opponent falsely alleged that some people, when interpreting Allah Most High’s words,

‘Alas for my neglect of my duty to Allah!’ [al-Zumar 56],

mean the side that is a bodily part. He said: ‘It is not as they imagine.’”

Al-Dārimī continued:

“This opponent should be told: How lightly you treat lying, and how readily it rolls off your tongue! If your allegation is true, point to a single human being who has said this. Otherwise, why use lies to vilify people who know more about Quranic exegesis than you and understand the interpretation of Allah’s Book better than you and your imam? Their interpretation is simply that the unbelievers regret having neglected faith and the virtues that call one to Allah Himself, choosing unbelief and mockery of Allah’s allies instead. Thus He called them mockers.