Most of the hadiths transmitted by these men are also transmitted by their peers. Likewise, most of the answers they give to questions are also stated (1) by their peers. Ahl al-Sunnah do not regard the view of any one of these men alone (2) as infallible and binding upon others to follow. Rather, whenever they disagree over anything, they refer it back to Allah and the Messenger.

You can judge this by what you observe in your own time of the scholars’ knowledge (3) of the Quran and hadith and their understanding of both (4), while you (5) will find many members of Banū Hāshim who have not memorized the Quran, know nothing of the Prophet’s hadith—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—except what Allah wills, and do not understand the meanings (6) of that.

If such a man says, “Our grandfather transmitted from Gabriel, from the Creator,” he is told, “Yes, but these men know more than you do about what your grandfather transmitted from Gabriel, and you yourselves turn to them concerning it.” If every member of Banū Hāshim, past and present, has learned (7) some of what the Messenger—[may Allah bless him and grant him peace]—(8) brought from someone else—indeed, from someone outside the descendants of