1319 — ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Ja‘far mentioned: ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad narrated to us. He said: Bakr ibn Muhammad narrated to us, from his father, from Abu ‘Abd Allah Ahmad ibn Hanbal, who said:

“I asked him about the Qadari: should he be asked to repent? I said, ‘‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz and Malik ibn Anas hold that he should be asked to repent; if he repents, [he is spared], but otherwise he is to be beheaded.’

Abu ‘Abd Allah said, ‘I hold that he should be asked to repent if he denies Allah’s knowledge ⦗786⦘.’

I said, ‘How does he deny Allah’s knowledge?’ He replied, ‘If he says, “This was not within Allah’s knowledge,” ask him to repent. If he repents, [he is spared]; otherwise, I would have him beheaded.’