and the common people and those like them who are not among the elite in any way, there is no doubt that their later generations are free from innovation just as their earlier ones. As for the elite, among them are innovators who invented the innovation and made it their focus, striving to strengthen it in every way, making it a principle to which they refer the clear texts of the Quran and sunnah. Then, followers of their kind in jurisprudence and fanaticism followed them, perhaps renewing their innovation and building upon it, attributing to it what it cannot bear, yet he is their leading imam. These are truly the innovators, and it is a grave matter (the heavens are almost torn apart from it, the earth splits, and the mountains collapse in devastation), such as denying the wisdom of Allāh, denying His empowerment of the responsible, claiming He imposes what cannot be borne, and does all sorts of abominations without them being considered abominable, and their like! Among them are those less than that, and their realities are all with Allāh, and we do not know by which of them their adherent becomes one of the seventy-three sects. Among the people are those who followed these [innovators], supported them, and strengthened their numbers through teaching and writing, yet they consider themselves to have returned to the truth. They have inserted refutations of those discussions in places, but in a hidden manner, perhaps imagining a worldly benefit, or finding it difficult to lower themselves and endure their harm to his reputation, and perhaps the harm reached his person. In general, the man has known the truth from falsehood, and is confused in his actions, and his account is with Allāh, either to gather him with those he loved by his apparent state, or to accept his excuse. You hardly find any of these debaters except that they have done so, but their evil is, by Allāh, abundant, so perhaps their news did not reach a place, because only the intelligent and those well-versed in the research notice that subtle hint they inserted, and Allāh has enriched them with their knowledge from that hint. It is not of great benefit for them to know that the man knew the truth and concealed it. And Allāh is the one whose help is sought. Among the people are those who are not from the people of verification, nor are they prepared to delve into realities, and have
والسوقة ونحوهم ممن ليس من أمر الخاصة في شيء، فلا شك في براءة آخرهم من الابتداع كأولهم. وأما الخاصة، فمنهم مبتدع اخترع البدعة وجعلها نصب عينيه، وبلغ في تقويتها كل مبلغ، وجعلها أصلا يرد إليها صرائح الكتاب والسنة، ثم تبعه أقوام من نمطه في الفقه والتعصب، وربما جددوا بدعته وفرعوا عليها وحملوه ما لم يتحمله، ولكنه إمامهم المقدم وهؤلاء هم المبتدعة حقا، وهو شيء كبير (تكاد السماوات يتفطرن منه وتنشق الأرض وتخر الجبال هدا) ، كنفي حكمة الله تعالى، ونفي إقداره المكلف، وككونه يكلف ما لا يطاق، ويفعل سائر القبائح ولا تقبح منه، وأخواتهن! ومنها ما هو دون ذلك، وحقائقها جميعها عند الله تعالى، ولا ندري بأيها يصير صاحبها من إحدى الثلاث وسبعين فرقة. ومن الناس من تبع هؤلاء وناصرهم وقوى سوادهم بالتدريس والتصنيف، ولكنه عند نفسه راجع إلى الحق، وقد دس في تلك الأبحاث نقوضها في مواضع لكن على وجه خفي، ولعله تخيل مصلحة دنيئة، أو عظم عليه انحطاط نفسه وإيذاؤهم له في عرضه وربما بلغت الأذية إلى نفسه. وعلى الجملة فالرجل قد عرف الحق من الباطل، وتخبط في تصرفاته، وحسابه على الله سبحانه، إما أن يحشره مع من أحب بظاهر حاله، أو يقبل عذره، وما تكاد تجد أحدا من هؤلاء النظار إلا قد فعل ذلك، لكن شرهم والله كثير، فلربما لم يقع خبرهم بمكان، وذلك لأنه لا يفطن لتلك اللمحة الخفية التي دسوها إلا الأذكياء المحيطون بالبحث، وقد أغناهم الله بعلمهم عن تلك اللمحة، وليس بكبير فائدة أن يعلموا أن الرجل كان يعلم الحق ويخفيه. والله المستعان. ومن الناس من ليس من أهل التحقيق، ولا هيء للهجوم على الحقائق، وقد