(1/7), where he says:

“And I bear witness to His lordship and oneness, and to the most beautiful names, exalted attributes, and most perfect qualities that He has affirmed for Himself.”

He thus mentions the three categories, and there are many such quotations.

Third: As for the writer’s claim that Ibn Abī al-‘Izz is mistakenly identified as a Hanafī, he has made this assertion recklessly, without research or verification, as is his habit. Had he consulted the entries on Ibn Abī al-‘Izz in the biographical works, he would have found them full of material exposing his lies and ignorance. Among the facts recorded in these works that demonstrate Ibn Abī al-‘Izz’s Hanafī affiliation are the following:

1. He belonged to a family that led the Hanafī school in Damascus. His father was Judge ‘Alā’ al-Dīn ‘Alī ibn Abī al-‘Izz al-Hanafī (d. 746 AH), the preacher at the al-Amzam Mosque and judicial deputy to Judge ‘Imād al-Dīn al-Tarsūsī. His grandfather was Judge Shams al-Dīn Abū ‘Abd Allāh Muhammad ibn Abī al-‘Izz, one of the senior Hanafī scholars. He served as a deputy judge for approximately twenty years, was the first to deliver sermons at the al-Amzam Mosque, and taught at the al-Mu‘azzamiyya, al-Yaghmūriyya, and al-Qilījiyya schools. His great-grandfather was Muhammad ibn Abī al-‘Izz Sālih ibn Abī al-‘Izz al-Awza‘ī, who was the fourth teacher at al-Murshidiyya. Among his paternal cousins were Judge Sadr al-Dīn Sulaymān ibn Abī al-‘Izz, one of those who attained leadership of the Hanafī school in his time; the mufti Muhammad ibn Sulaymān ibn Abī al-‘Izz, who was one of the foremost Hanafī scholars; and ‘Alī ibn Yūsuf ibn Muhammad ibn Sulaymān ibn Abī al-‘Izz, who was a Hanafī jurist. He thus grew up in the care of a family whose members all adhered to the school of Abū Hanīfa.

2. He held teaching posts at schools specifically for Hanafīs. He taught at al-Qaymāziyya in (748 AH), at al-Rukniyya School in (777 AH), at al-‘Izziyya al-Barrāniyya in (784 AH), and at al-Jawhariyya. All of these were Hanafī schools.