is more knowledgeable, more learned, greater in number, and stronger in argument? If what led them to that was purely scientific investigation, then no one could blame them. The meaning of scientific investigation, as is well known, is to examine all the ḥadīths related to this topic, study their chains of transmission and narrators, and then judge them as authentic or weak. If any of them are authenticated, they should study them in terms of their indications, jurisprudence, generality, and specificity, all according to the principles of ḥadīth methodology and the principles of fiqh. If they did that, no one could criticize them, and they would be rewarded. But they—by Allāh—do nothing of the sort. Instead, when an issue arises, they look at the scholars' opinions on it and then take what is easiest or what they claim is closest to achieving benefit. without considering whether it aligns with the evidence from the Qurʾān and the sunnah. How many things have they legislated for people in this way, under the name of Islamic law, from which Islam is free. To Allāh is the complaint. So be diligent, O Muslim, in knowing your Islam from the Book of your Lord and the sunnah of your Prophet. Do not say, "So-and-so said," for the truth is not known by men. Rather, know the truth, and you will know the men. May Allāh have mercy on the one who said: Knowledge is what Allāh said, what His Messenger said, and what the Companions said, not deception. Knowledge is not setting up foolish disputes between the Messenger and the opinion of a jurist, nor is it denying the attributes and negating them out of fear of anthropomorphism. Thirdly, Allāh may punish some of the immoral with a worldly, material punishment, transforming them and changing their forms, and consequently their minds, into that of an animal. Al-Ḥāfiẓ said in "al-Fatḥ" (10/49) while discussing the transformation mentioned in the ḥadīth: "Ibn al-ʿArabī said: It could be literal as it happened to past nations, or it could be..