with them in many matters more than with the Christians, just as a group of Sufis and ascetics incline more toward the Christians than toward the Jews. If, then, those who affirm Allah’s attributes are closer to the Christians, while their opponents are closer to the Magians and polytheists, it becomes clear that those who affirm Allah’s attributes are followers of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and his Companions, who rejoiced at the Christian Romans’ victory over the Magian Persians, whereas those who deny His attributes are closer to the polytheists who rejoiced at the Magians’ victory over the Christians.