Did Abu al-Hasan's return to the methodology of the people of the Sunnah and the community constitute a complete return?
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The questioner : Did Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari's return constitute a complete withdrawal, or did death overtake him before he could, meaning, correct all the errors he held? Because in his later books, he affirms only the descriptive attributes and does not affirm the attributes of actions. For example, in *al-Ibanah*, he states some sayings in which he contradicts the people of the Sunnah. And what is established regarding his return is only the general statement he made: "I am upon the methodology of Ahmad." So do we say that his return was...?
The Shaykh : As long as the man committed himself to the methodology of Imam Ahmad, the original assumption is that he says everything that this methodology says. This is the original assumption until we find in his book *al-Ibanah*, or if there is another later book, something that contradicts this. This is the original assumption.
The questioner : Did he pass away before he corrected these errors?
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : Did he pass away before he corrected these errors?
The Shaykh : We do not know. We must look to see if in the book *al-Ibanah* and similar later books there is anything that contradicts the methodology of the people of the Sunnah. Absolutely not, it is not possible, except perhaps in matters of faith or matters of actions, where it might be the case. But regarding the matter of the attributes, he was upon the methodology of Imam Ahmad. There is no doubt that all the examples he cited indicate this.
The Shaykh : As long as the man committed himself to the methodology of Imam Ahmad, the original assumption is that he says everything that this methodology says. This is the original assumption until we find in his book *al-Ibanah*, or if there is another later book, something that contradicts this. This is the original assumption.
The questioner : Did he pass away before he corrected these errors?
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : Did he pass away before he corrected these errors?
The Shaykh : We do not know. We must look to see if in the book *al-Ibanah* and similar later books there is anything that contradicts the methodology of the people of the Sunnah. Absolutely not, it is not possible, except perhaps in matters of faith or matters of actions, where it might be the case. But regarding the matter of the attributes, he was upon the methodology of Imam Ahmad. There is no doubt that all the examples he cited indicate this.