saying, “Al-Shāfi‘ī was neither a philosopher nor a Murji’ī, whereas these men are philosophers, Ash‘arīs, and Murji’ah.” Their aim is to condemn the doctrine of the Murji’ah. We shall present their principal argument, since it is well known among many later scholars who identify with the Sunnah. Al-Qādī Abū Bakr said in al-Tamhīd:

“If they ask, ‘Tell us, then: what is faith according to you?’ the answer is: ‘Faith is affirmation of Allah, which is knowledge; affirmation resides in the heart.’

“If someone asks, ‘What is your evidence for what you have said?’ the answer is: ‘The unanimous agreement of all authorities on the Arabic language that, before the revelation of the Quran and the commissioning of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—faith meant affirmation. They recognize no other meaning for faith in the language. This is indicated by the words of the Exalted: ‘But you would not believe us,’ meaning: ‘You would not affirm what we say.’ Likewise, people say, ‘So-and-so believes in intercession,’ and ‘So-and-so does not believe in the punishment of the grave,’ meaning that he does not affirm it.

“‘It necessarily follows that faith in the revealed Law is the faith known in the language, for Allah neither changed nor transformed the Arabic language. Had He done so, reports of this would have been transmitted so widely as to establish certainty; the community would have had abundant reasons to transmit it, and its disclosure would have prevailed over its concealment. Our knowledge that He did not do this, but instead retained the names of things and all linguistic usage as they had been, is evidence that faith in the revealed Law has its linguistic meaning.

“‘This is further clarified by the words of the Exalted:

“‘“We never sent a messenger except in the language of his people.”

“‘And His words:

“‘“Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Quran.”

“‘He thus stated that He revealed the Quran in the language of the Arabs and used its terms for what they designated among them. There is no justification for departing from the apparent meanings of these verses without evidence, especially when their wording is held to be general in scope and authoritative teaching has established that the Quran was revealed in their language. This establishes our contention: faith is what we have described, to the exclusion of all other acts of obedience, whether voluntary or obligatory.’”

These are his exact words.