[The Later Imāmī Scholars’ Reliance on the Muʿtazila in Rational Matters]
As for their principal authorities in rational inquiry and the rational disciplines, their later scholars relied upon the writings of the Muʿtazila and agreed with them on questions concerning the divine attributes and divine decree. The Muʿtazila, on the whole(1), are more rational and truthful. None among the Muʿtazila impugns the caliphate of Abū Bakr, Umar, or Uthmān [may Allah Most High be pleased with them all](2); rather, they unanimously affirm the caliphates of all three.
As for relative merit, their leading scholars and the majority of them gave precedence to Abū Bakr and Umar [may Allah be pleased with them both](3). Some of their later adherents refrained from specifying the precise order of merit, while others gave precedence to Alī. Thus, a close affinity(4) arose between them and the Zaydīs because of the views they shared concerning divine unity, justice, the imamate, and relative merit. The early Muʿtazila [and their leading scholars](5), such as Amr ibn Ubayd(6), Wāsil ibn Atā(7), and others, withheld judgment(8) concerning the probity of
(1) The text between the two asterisks is omitted from A; it is also omitted from B except for the words “and the Mu'tazila.”
(2) The text between square brackets is an addition in A and B.
(3) “May Allah be pleased with them both” is an addition in A and B.
(4) A and B read: “strong.”
(5) “And their leading scholars” is an addition in A and B.
(6) Amr ibn Ubayd ibn Bāb, Abū Uthmān, was one of the leading Mu'tazilite figures. He died in 144 AH. For his biography, see Ibn al-Murtadā, al-Munya wa-l-Amal, pp. [0–9]2–24; Ibn Khallikān, 3/130–133; Shadharāt al-Dhahab, 1/210–211; Tārīkh Baghdād, 12/166–188; Mīzān al-I'tidāl, 3/273–280; al-Mas'ūdī, Murūj al-Dhahab, 3/313–314; Sezgin, 2/361–362; and al-A'lām, 5/252. The Amriyya, one of the Mu'tazilite sects, is named after him. On this sect, see al-Farq bayn al-Firaq, pp. [0–9]2–73; and al-Isfarāyīnī, p. [0–9]2.
(7) Wāsil ibn Atā al-Ghazzāl was a student of al-Hasan al-Basrī but later separated from him. It is said that his followers were consequently called the Mu'tazila. He was the leading figure of the Mu'tazila and died in 131 AH. For his biography, see Shadharāt al-Dhahab, 1/182–183. His sect is known as the Wāsiliyya. On this sect, see al-Milal wa-l-Nihal, 1/53; al-Isfarāyīnī, pp. [0–9]0–42; and al-Farq bayn al-Firaq, pp. [0–9]0–72.
(8) N reads: “withholding judgment”; M reads: “in agreement.”