nor the Christians until you follow their religion. Say, ‘Indeed, Allah’s guidance is the guidance.’ And if you were to follow their desires after the knowledge that has come to you, you would have neither protector nor helper against Allah.”

Whoever follows people’s desires after receiving the knowledge with which Allah sent His Messenger, and after the guidance Allah has made clear to His servants, is in this very position. This is why the early generations called the people of innovation and division—those who oppose the Quran and the Sunnah—“followers of desires”: they accepted what they liked and rejected what they disliked according to their desires, without guidance from Allah.

As for the objector’s statement regarding Abū al-Faraj:

“It is as though they were addressing children.”

The Hanbalīs have addressed people only with what has been transmitted from Allah, His Messenger, his Companions, and those who followed them in righteousness. These are the people most knowledgeable about Allah and His rulings. We defer to them in matters of religious law, and they are our examples in what they have conveyed about Allah and His law. Whoever refers to them has acted fairly. Whoever departs from their way has set himself in opposition, claiming that others know more about Allah than they do; or that they knew but concealed their knowledge, and that they did not understand what they conveyed; or that others’ reason in (the subject of knowledge of Allah) is fuller, more complete, and better informed than what they transmitted and understood. We have already presented enough on this subject. Allah alone grants success.

“Whoever Allah does not grant light has no light.”