Allah will not be seen in the Hereafter and is not above the Throne, and similar innovations of the Jahmiyyah. They therefore compiled books, beginning them with evidence from the Quran, hadith, and statements of the early generations showing the obligation to adhere firmly to the Book and Sunnah. They mentioned sound points, but they sometimes mixed authentic reports with weak ones and sometimes cited evidence that did not establish the point at issue.

Moreover, they appeal to the Quran only for what it reports, not for the proofs it provides. Thus, they do not mention its proofs establishing Allah’s lordship and oneness, prophethood, and the Resurrection, or explain that it has set out rational proofs demonstrating these matters. This is why they gave their books titles such as Foundations of the Sunnah and the Sharia. They treated faith in the Messenger as already established, with no need to explain the proofs supporting it. The first group therefore criticized them and accused them of ignorance because they had not mentioned the foundational proofs establishing the Messenger’s truthfulness. In turn, the second group accused the first of religious innovation, and even disbelief, because they had laid down principles contrary to what the Messenger taught.

Both groups deserve blame because they turned away from the foundations Allah explained in His Book, which are the foundations, proofs, and signs of the religion. When both groups turned away from them, enmity arose between them, as Allah Most High said:

“So they forgot a portion of what they had been reminded of, and We stirred up enmity and hatred among them until the Day of Resurrection.”