The position of the third generation of jurists concerning increase and decrease [in faith]: Sufyan al-Thawri, Ibn Jurayj, Ma'mar, al-Awza'i, Malik ibn Anas, Sufyan ibn Uyaynah, Malik ibn Mighwal, Ibn Abi Layla, Abu Bakr ibn Ayyash, Zuhayr ibn Mu'awiyah, Za'idah, al-Fudayl ibn Iyad, Jarir ibn Abd al-Hamid, Hammad ibn Salamah, Hammad ibn Zayd, Ibn al-Mubarak, Abu Shihab, al-Hannat, Abthar ibn al-Qasim, Yahya ibn Sa'id al-Qattan, Waki', Shu'ayb ibn Harith, Isma'il ibn Ayyash, al-Walid ibn Muslim, al-Walid ibn Muhammad, Yazid ibn al-Sa'ib, al-Nadr ibn Shumayl, al-Nadr ibn Muhammad al-Marwazi, al-Mufaddal ibn Muhalhil, al-Shafi'i, Ahmad, Ishaq, Abu Ubayd, and Ali ibn al-Madini.
Sahl ibn al-Mutawakkil said: “I met a thousand teachers, or more; all of them said: ‘Faith is speech and action; it increases and decreases.’”
Ya'qub ibn Sufyan said: “I found the People of the Sunnah and the Community upon this,” and he mentioned the names of a group whom we shall cite at the end of this discussion, if Allah wills.