The Ruling on the School of Imam al-Ash'ari and His Followers

Question:
And this is recommended (may Allah have mercy on him). What is the meaning of the words of Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding the religious matters? (may Allah have mercy on him) Should the people of the Sunnah ask themselves what they accompany the people of the Sunnah with?

Answer:
Yes, Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari is from the people of the Sunnah in many issues, because he turned to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and committed to the school of Imam Ahmad, as he explicitly stated in his two books, al-Ibanah and Maqalat al-Islamiyyin. He explicitly stated that he is upon the school of Imam Ahmad, even if some discrepancies remained with him in some matters. But in general, he is a follower of the Sunnah. So whoever among his followers agreed with him on this return and adopted this final school is from the people of the Sunnah without doubt. He is, without doubt, from the people of the Sunnah. As for whoever remained on the first school before he corrected it, he is not from the people of the Sunnah. Yes.
And I am consulting you at the sixth hour. This is upon the old school, as far as we know. They are all upon the old school, as evidenced by their books and as evidenced by their words regarding the old school. So they did not return with Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari.