al-Sabakhī and Thābit al-Bunānī—with Thābit alone being the exception. The others were far removed from deliberate lying, but they might not retain reports accurately. Their hadiths are therefore suitable for corroboration and comparison with other reports, but not for reliance, despite their goodness, devotion, righteousness, and the miraculous gifts granted to them.

The point is that this statement attributed to Ahmad is falsely ascribed to him. Ahmad never said that Allah’s words, “Be, and it is” (117), constitute an address consisting of letters and sound that issues from Allah Most High at every instant, once for each thing brought into being.