foolishness and stupidity. How, then, can they deem it proper to attribute such a thing to Allah in pre-eternity? (1)”

The answer to this may be given in several ways:

First, it may be said:

This is the position of the Kullābiyya, who are one group among those who say: (2 Allah’s speech is uncreated. They are also one group among those who affirm the legitimate leadership of the three caliphs. Thus, whether their position is true or false, it entails neither the validity of the Rāfidī doctrine nor the invalidity of the position of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah. If the view he mentioned is false, most of those who affirm the legitimate leadership of the three caliphs do not hold it—neither those who say 2) (2): “The Quran is created,” such as the Muʿtazila, nor (3) those who say, “It is Allah’s speech and is uncreated,” such as the Karrāmiyya, the Sālimiyya, the Salaf, and Ahl al-Hadith among the adherents (4) of the four schools and others. Citing anything such as this (5) therefore does not accomplish the Rāfidī’s purpose.

Second, it may be said:

(6) Most leading Shiʿite authorities say, “The Quran is uncreated,” and this is what is established from the Imams of the Prophet’s Household. This, then, is one of the positions held by these people. If it is not true, one could instead adopt another of their positions.