one another to follow faithfully and to stop where their predecessors had stopped. They warned against going beyond them or departing from their way, and explained their path and approach to us. We hope that Allah Most High will make us among those who follow their example in explaining what they explained and following the path they followed.

The evidence that their approach was as we have described is that they transmitted to us the magnificent Quran and the reports of the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—as people who affirmed their truth, believed in them, and accepted them, neither doubting them nor questioning the truthfulness of the one who spoke them. They did not explain the passages concerning the divine attributes, reinterpret them, or liken them to the attributes of created beings. Had they done any of this, it would have been transmitted from them; it could not have been concealed altogether. For colluding to conceal what needs to be transmitted and known is impermissible, being as reprehensible as colluding to transmit falsehood and commit unlawful acts.

Indeed, so scrupulously did they refrain from discussing this that, whenever they saw someone asking about ambiguous passages, they would firmly restrain him—sometimes with harsh words, sometimes with blows, and sometimes by turning away in a manner that showed their intense aversion to his questioning.

Thus, when ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with him—heard that Subaygh was asking about ambiguous passages, he prepared date-palm stalks for him. While ʿUmar was delivering a sermon, Subaygh stood up and asked him about:

“By those that scatter far and wide,”

“and those that bear a heavy load,”

and the verses that follow.

ʿUmar came down and said:

“Had I found your head shaven, I would have struck your head with the sword.”

He then ordered that he be severely beaten and sent him to Basra, instructing its people not to sit with him. There he became like a mangy camel: whenever he approached a gathering, they would say, “The Commander of the Faithful’s command!” and disperse, leaving him alone. Eventually, he repented and swore by Allah that nothing remained of what he had previously harboured within himself. ʿUmar then permitted people to sit with him.