Thus, this encompasses all the foundations of disbelief: denying the messengers or seeking to rival them, as did Musaylimah the Liar and others like him. These are the “foundations of innovation” that we refute here, for whoever opposes the Sunnah rejects some of what the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, brought, or counters the Messenger’s words with something he treats as their equal: an opinion, an unveiling, or the like.

It has therefore become clear that those who call these people and their leaders Hashwiyyah are themselves more deserving of every blameworthy description they mention. The leaders of those they disparage have a stronger claim to every form of beneficial knowledge, rigorous scholarship, the uncovering of truths, and specialized knowledge unknown to these ignorant detractors who deny Allah and His Messenger.

If they disparage them as Hashwiyyah because they narrate hadiths without discrimination, then their opponents are the foremost purveyors of worthless opinions and discourse whose soundness is unknown—indeed, whose falsity is known. If it is because they include ordinary people who lack discernment, then every one of those sects has among its followers some of the most ignorant and unbelieving people. Yet the ordinary followers of those they disparage are the ones who frequent the mosques for prayer, remember Allah and supplicate to Him, perform pilgrimage to the Ancient House, strive in Allah’s cause, and embody honesty, trustworthiness, and every kind of good in the world.

It has thus become clear to you that their opponents are more deserving of these grounds for censure, while these people are further removed from them. People must therefore turn to them concerning the prophetic inheritance with which Allah has singled them out, and which is found only among them.