and his defense of it stemmed from its objective merits, unaffected by its lineage or what preceded it.

Al-Subki was among those who approved of the "Murshida" and affirmed its correctness. He commented on it after presenting its full text, saying: "This is the end of the creed. There is nothing in it that is objectionable." He placed it in the same category as a creed of his own creation, and a creed by Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Tahawi, and a creed by Abd al-Karim ibn Hawazin al-Qushayri (d. 933 AH / 321 AH). He said that it was "common to the principles of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah." He also strongly criticized those who rejected this creed and denounced it, attributing ill omen to it regarding the Franks' capture of Jerusalem. He mentioned their oppression and harm to Muslims from the school where it was taught, saying: "This is from cold fanaticism and corrupt ignorance. The Franks committed atrocities inside Al-Aqsa Mosque. Why don't they consider that? We seek refuge in Allah from misguidance."

Al-Subki also defended Ibn Tumart and denied the accusations against him. Regarding the accusation of Mu'tazilism, he said: "As for his claim [i.e., al-Alai's] that Ibn Tumart was a Mu'tazilite, that is not true for us. It is most likely that he was an Ash'ari with a correct creed. He was a just prince, calling to the path of truth."

(Same source and page) (208) Abu Ja'far Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Salamah al-Tahawi, a Hanafi jurist, to whom the leadership of the Hanafis in Egypt devolved. He was born and raised in Egypt. He traveled to Sham. He has a treatise on creed. His works include "Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar" in Hadith, and "Ahkam al-Quran," and "Al-Mukhtasar" in Fiqh.

(See his biography in: Ibn Khallikan, Wafayat al-A'yan: 717/1) He was the shaykh of Khurasan in his time in asceticism and knowledge. He resided in and died in Nishapur. Among his works are "Al-Risalah al-Qushayriyyah" in Sufism, and "Tafsir al-Kabir."

(See his biography in: Ibn Khallikan, Wafayat al-A'yan: 205/3) Al-Subki, Mufid al-Ni'am wa Mubid al-Niqam.

(Al-Subki, Tabaqat: 70/5) (212) Anfash al-Fajr wa al-Safhah. (013) 0039