Fūrak. The interpretations of its meaning mentioned by these people are likewise unsound, except for the first, which is the apparent meaning of the hadith. Similarly, his statement that Ahmad did not take His words, “and on earth” [al-An‘ām 3], according to their apparent meaning reflects his agreement with calling that interpretation the apparent meaning. What Ahmad stated regarding the verse is its apparent meaning, as we have explained elsewhere. This terminology used by al-Qādī is not binding on Imam Ahmad.