al-Taymī and many of the Successors.

It was also related from Mālik ibn Anas, al-Layth ibn Sa‘d, Sufyān al-Thawrī, Ibn Abī Laylā, Abū Hanīfah, al-Shāfi‘ī, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ishāq ibn Rāhawayh, and other imams like them. The statements of these imams and their followers on this subject are numerous and well known. Indeed, the imams of the early generations were widely reported to have declared anyone who said, “The Quran is created,” an unbeliever, and to have held that he should be called upon to repent and, if he did not, be executed. This was related from Mālik ibn Anas and others.

Thus, when Hafs al-Fard—a follower of Dirār ibn ‘Amr who held that the Quran was created—debated al-Shāfi‘ī and said to him, “The Quran is created,” al-Shāfi‘ī told him, “You have disbelieved in Allah the Almighty.”

Ibn Abī Hātim mentioned this in his Refutation of the Jahmiyyah, saying: “My written record contained a report from al-Rabī‘ ibn Sulaymān, who said: ‘I was present with al-Shāfi‘ī—or Abū Shu‘ayb related it to me—but I know that ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Abd al-Hakam and Yūsuf ibn ‘Amr ibn Yazīd were present. Hafs asked ‘Abd Allāh, “What do you say about the Quran?” He refused to answer him. He then asked Yūsuf ibn ‘Amr, who did not answer him either. Both directed him to al-Shāfi‘ī. He therefore asked al-Shāfi‘ī, who presented his arguments against him, and the debate continued at length. Al-Shāfi‘ī established the proof that the Quran is the speech of Allah, uncreated, and declared Hafs al-Fard an unbeliever.’”

Al-Rabī‘ said: “After this, I met Hafs in the mosque, and he said, ‘Al-Shāfi‘ī wanted to have me killed.’”

As for Mālik ibn Anas, reports through several chains relate his refutation of those who say that the Quran is created and his requirement that they be called upon to repent. This is the well-known position transmitted from him, and his followers agree upon it.