nor with the true nature of the views of the speculative theologians whose discipline the early generations condemned, why they adopted these views, or what compelled them to do so.

It had become widely known among ordinary people and scholars alike that the Quran is uncreated, and that declaring it created is an innovated position condemned by the early generations and the imams. Thus, someone reading works of speculative theology in which he finds only the position of the Mu'tazilah and that of those who refuted them and claimed adherence to the Sunnah comes to imagine that these are the only two positions on the issue. Knowing that the former was condemned by the early generations, he assumes that the other must be their position. Something similar happens in many other questions: a person knows only two or three positions on an issue and assumes that one of them must be correct, whereas there is another position, unknown to him, which alone is correct. This is a widespread phenomenon affecting many issues.

May Allah guide us and all our fellow Muslims to the words and deeds He loves and is pleased with. Whoever strives to the best of his ability with the intention of obeying Allah and His Messenger is not burdened by Allah beyond his capacity. Rather, Allah rewards him for his obedience and forgives his errors concerning matters he was unable to ascertain.

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There are numerous scriptural texts and transmitted reports establishing the superiority of some of Allah’s speech over other parts—indeed, even of some of His attributes over others. As for the statement, “All of Allah’s attributes are excellent