the negation of it by the mujtahids: for the author of this esteemed book attributed this statement—meaning the permissibility of erecting domes and shrines over the graves of the virtuous—only to Imām Yaḥyá alone. He stated verbatim: "The issue of Imām Yaḥyá: There is no harm in domes and shrines over the graves of the virtuous and kings due to the practice of Muslims and it was not objected to. End of quote." From this, you understand that only Imām Yaḥyá said this, and you know the evidence he used, which is the practice of Muslims without objection. Then the author of al-Baḥr mentioned this evidence that Imām Yaḥyá used in al-Ghayth and relied on it, bringing no other. If you understand this, it becomes clear to you that this disagreement exists between Imām Yaḥyá and the rest of the scholars, from the Companions and the Followers, from the early members of the Prophet's family and the later ones, from the scholars of the four schools of thought and others, and from all the mujtahids, the first and the last. This is not challenged by the account of someone who reported Imām Yaḥyá's statement in his work, among those authors who came after him. For merely reporting the statement does not indicate that the reporter chooses it and adheres to it. If you find a scholar after him who says this and prefers it, if he is a mujtahid, he is saying what Imām Yaḥyá said, adhering to the evidence he used. If he is not a mujtahid, his agreement is not considered. Because only the statements of the mujtahids are considered, not those of the imitators. So if you want to know whether the truth lies in what Imām Yaḥyá said, or what others from the scholars said, it is obligatory upon you to refer this disagreement to what Allāh has commanded us to refer to, which is the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah of His Messenger (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam)