that they follow is the original or the religion brought by Muḥammad (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam), and the other school is a different, abrogated religion. Others among them hold the opposite view, seeing these schools—with all their wide differences—as multiple laws, as some of their later scholars have explicitly stated. There is no harm for a Muslim to take from any of them what they wish and leave what they wish, as all are considered law. These and those might argue for their persistence in disagreement with the false ḥadīth: "The difference of my community is a mercy." We have often heard them use this as evidence for that, and some of them justify this ḥadīth and interpret it by saying: The difference was only a mercy because it provided the community with ease. Although this justification contradicts the clear verses mentioned earlier and the essence of the words of the previous imams, there is a text from some of them rejecting it. Ibn al-Qāsim said: "I heard Mālik and Layth saying about the differences among the Companions of the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam): It is not as some people say: 'There is ease in it.' It is not so; rather, it is right and wrong." Ashhab said: "Mālik was asked about someone who followed a ḥadīth narrated by a trustworthy person from the Companions of the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam). Did he see that as providing ease? He said: No, by Allāh, until he reaches the truth. The truth is only one. Two different opinions cannot both be correct. The truth and correctness are only one."