book contained in the way of misguidance and false argument, since doing so would support Allah’s believing servants and expose [the falsity of the claims made by lying heretics].

I informed them that, although this book is among the foremost(1) of what they advance by way of proof and evidence, these people are [among those furthest astray from the straight path, for] evidence is either transmitted or rational. In matters of doctrine, they are among the most misguided of people concerning both transmitted and rational evidence, [and in substantiating their doctrines; they are among those who most closely(2) resemble the people] of whom Allah said:

{“They will say, ‘If only we had listened or reasoned, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze.’”}

[Sūrat al-Mulk: 10]

[These people(3) are among the greatest liars concerning transmitted matters and among the most ignorant(4)] of people concerning rational matters. They accept as true transmitted material which scholars necessarily(5) know to be [utter falsehoods, while rejecting what is necessarily known(6)] and has been mass-transmitted to the highest possible degree throughout the Muslim community, generation after generation. Among transmitters of knowledge and narrators of [hadith(7)] and reports(8), they do not distinguish [between one known for lying or] error, or ignorance(9) concerning what he transmits, and an upright narrator with a sound memory and exacting accuracy who is known for his knowledge of transmitted reports(10).