about the veracity of the One who spoke them, and they never ventured to explain the verses that deal with the divine attributes, nor did they reinterpret them or liken them to the attributes of created beings. Had they done any of that, it would certainly have been transmitted from them; it is impossible that such a matter could have been concealed in its entirety, for people cannot unanimously collude to hide something that must be conveyed and known. Such collusion would be as reprehensible as conspiring to circulate a falsehood or to commit what is forbidden. Indeed, their determination to remain silent on this subject was so great that, whenever they saw anyone inquiring about the ambiguous verses, they would go to extreme lengths to restrain him—sometimes with harsh words, sometimes with a beating, and sometimes by pointedly turning away, thereby showing their intense aversion to his question.

10 – For this reason, when news reached ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with him—that Ṣubaygh was asking about the ambiguous passages, he prepared for him bundles of palm-stalks. While ʿUmar was delivering the sermon, Ṣubaygh stood up and asked him about the words, “By those that scatter far and wide, then those that bear a load” (Surah al-Dhāriyāt 51:1-2) and what follows them. ʿUmar stepped down from the pulpit and said, “What is your name?” He replied, “I am ʿAbd Allah Ṣubaygh.” ʿUmar said, “And I am ʿAbd Allah ʿUmar. Bare your head.” He uncovered it, and ʿUmar saw that it was covered with hair. ʿUmar then said, “Had I found you shaven, I would have struck that (head) between your eyes with the sword!” He ordered that Ṣubaygh be given a severe beating, sent him to Basra, and instructed the people there not to sit with him. In Basra he was treated like a mangy camel: whenever he entered a gathering they would say, “This is the order of the Commander of the Believers,” and they would disperse from him—until he repented and swore by Allah that nothing of what had been in his heart remained. Only then did ʿUmar permit the people to sit with him. Later, when the Khārijites emerged, someone came to Ṣubaygh and said, “Now is your time.” He replied, “No, the admonition of the righteous servant has already benefited me.”