0
Has anyone actually received any toys from safwa to assemble at home?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
I found this on Yahoo answers: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkwyxfJ4Onbi7vYQfZMYCrYjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20090727153210AA7HxTq
= Has anyone had complaints for Safwa toys? = I was looking into the toy assembly Safwa Toys (www.safwa1.com) and I was wondering if anyone knows FOR SURE if they are legit. Have you worked for them? Any complaints? The better business bureau had no info on them. I know that there are many scams out there so please don't answer unless you've actually dealt with this company before. Thanks!
Answer: Yes major complaints don't waste your money. In early June I sent them $90 (which they called a registration fee). I received a welcome letter asking for another payment that covered the toys. 900 Toys for $139.99, 1700 Toys for $299.99, 2100 Toys for $489.99, 2800 Toys for $975.99. So of course eager to work I sent them the $139 minus the fed ex fee. Since they have received my payment I have been emailing them every week and they keep telling me that they are backed up and haven't received any shipment yet. Every week it was the same answer. Mind you the first couple of times they didn't even respond until I mentioned I was going to go to the better business bureau. Today I sent them an email that said: On Friday July 10th you told me I will get my toys by the end of next week or you will refund my money. The following week you told me you are still behind and need some more time. It is now Tuesday July 28th and I still have no word from you, and pretty much know this is nothing but a scam to steal people's money. At this point I don't want to hear that I will get the toys by next week, I do not believe a company can be that far behind. About an hour later I received a response that said: We are not a scam trying to rip you off our shipment is taking longer than expected if you want us to refund your money we will because it's not fair to have you keep waiting so just let me know what you what us to do. And today at about 9PM I received another response: Hello- I'm sorry that you do not want to be apart of the company, so we will refund your money this process takes 14 business days. It normally takes 30 days but you will receive a full refund in 14 business days.. The refund process will start today and once this is complete you will receive your money back. You will receive your refund Aug 17 by ups when its sent we will email you the tracking and somebody will have to sign for it. Sorry things did not work out we were looking forward to working with you we need you to email the exact name you want on the check also exact address where you want your refund sent to please email back asap. We will email you and let you know that it has been sent out. If you have any questions until then please feel free to let us know. Thanks
------------So you be the judge, I believe that once you send them the money they will just keep telling you that they will send out the toys next week and keep you going. I'm just worried on how long it will take to get the refund. We'll see if I get it by August 17th???
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What kind of toys do safwa toys make?
They don't make them, they hire people to assemble toys from your house.
What is zip code of SAFWA Saudi Arabia?
31921
Who is the finest dentist in Safwa?
Dr. rozitta at Salamattek Dispensary!
What's the name of dentist in salamatek dispensary safwa Saudi Arabia?
dr.rosita b. agasen
What actors and actresses appeared in Al-raghba - 2002?
The cast of Al-raghba - 2002 includes: Salah Abdallah as Abdul Fattah Safwa as Hassaniya Nadia El Guindy as Nema Yaser Galal as Hussam Doaa Hegazy Ilham Shaheen as Laila
Is safwa toys a scam?
They make you pay for something you're supposed to be PAID for doing. That is the reason its a scam. They also have no ability to give you a receipt instantaneously (like online payments give you receipts after you're done making the payment) and that is a major part of it as well. They could easily receive your payment and "say" they sent you the product, so its not their fault if something happened to it. Most work from home companies will make you pay for their "kit" or "packet" as a new hire starting out and never give you a single dime after that or make it so ridiculously hard to finish you can't get your money's worth out of it. The website for Safwa toys is obviously hand made and anyone could easily have done it without a business license or anything like that. Watch out for work from home scams.
What are opinions on safwa toys?
Yes, it's a scam. You pay an "advance fee" to register, then they charge you an additional amount for the supposed toys. You never get them. You do get massive runarounds. When you ask for a refund, you won't get that either. You may get other fees and charges on your card. You will get further delays. And the delays aren't really "delays" in that you'll get your money eventually - you won't. The delays are in how long they can get you to wait before you complain to the State's Attorney's office.
What actors and actresses appeared in Heya fawda - 2007?
The cast of Heya fawda - 2007 includes: Amr Abdel Gelil as Samy Safwa as Somaya Youssef El Sherif as Cherif Hala Fakher as Baheya Ahmed Fouad Selim Rola Mahmoud as School Teacher Abdullah Mosharraf Khaled Saleh as Hatem Maher Salim Hala Sedki as Wedad Menna Shalabi as Nour Ahmed Yehia
What actors and actresses appeared in Gannat al shayateen - 1999?
The cast of Gannat al shayateen - 1999 includes: Sari Al Nagar as Adel Lebleba as Hobba Safwa as Shawkia Geena as The Girl Driver Menha Batraoui as The Wife Mohamad Dardiri as The Doctor Maged El Kedwany as Atef Saleh Fahmi as Boussy Tamer Habib as The Dentist Caroline Khalil as Salwa Raafat Ragi as Halim Kamal Soleiman as Abou Rasha Amr Waked as Nonna Menha Zeytoun as The Aunt
What are opinions of safwatoys?
On July 13 09 I spent the day sending six emails back and forth with Safwa, I checked them out and found nothing at all that said any thing bad about them. The next day I ups over night a payment of 255.99 plus 24.80 ups ch. A few days later I emailed then asking when to expect the shipment, they emailed me back that they didn't have any stock on hand and would send it out when they got it. Another two weeks went by and with emails only they again said no toys. After six weeks and many emails still no stock and no clue on their part when it will show up, at this point I've requested my money back. Now they say it will take another month to do that. Now I was born at night but it wasn't last night. Why don't they tell you before you send your payment that they have no stock. They did reply to most of my emails so I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this one. Improved answer: Attached are the e-mail's that took place between Safwatoys and Myself: This company took me for $255.99 plus over night express mailing. My Responce: Aug 17th 2009 Subject: Questions about assembling toys Hi, I came across your ad for making money by assembling toys and went to your website. I have a few questions for you. 1) Do you have a phone number? 2) What does the $90 include? How many toys do you get in your package to assemble? 3) Do you get any samples or a (compleated product to work off) with your toys to assemble? 4) How soon does it take to get paid? 5) Can more than one person from a household do this work? Please feel free to call me anytime. I am looking for good stay at home job! And am looking to start A.S.A.P Thanks I then provided my contact information Safwatoys Responce: Aug 18th 2009 Subject: Questions about assembling toys I want to be honest with you before you invest any money into the program. The $110 covers your registration fee and you're shipping on your toys.Then you will have to place a refundable deposit on the amount of toys that you want these toys are not cheap that's why a refundable deposit is required the fees are one time fees . These die cast cars hold a retail value of $15-$50 a piece. We give you up to 1 month to assemble the toys but it only takes 3-5 minutes to assemble each toy only tools needed is a screw driver. There is no risk involved if there is any problem we will refund your money Soon as we receive the toys completed you will receive your deposit back and a shipment of toys along with your paycheck. We cover the shipping cost when you send the toys back to us.The checks are tax free you are responsible for your own taxes we send you a 1099 form at the end of the year.The full amount that you send will be $110 plus the deposit that you select below.We send you all the shipping supplies you will need to complete the job. Its impossible to assemble the toys wrong so there is no toy qualification that your pay depends on. We hire people by email only we are a company that's not open to the public we sell and talk to a lot of companies daily that's why our reps cant be tied up on the phone with a lot of workers asking questions that can be answered through email .We cant have our reps tied up talking to workers that will neglect all the companies that we sell and talk to daily. Also if you have any problems we want to be able to respond to you right away not have your call drown out buy hundreds of callers and you get up set with our company because you cant get through. Select Amount of Toys Price 900 Toys $165.99 1700 Toys $299.99 2100 Toys $489.99 2800 Toys $975.99 Please Print Clearly First & Last Name__________________________________________ Address______________________________________________ City ______________________ State__________ Zip__________ Phone(____) - ________- ___________ Email Address___________________________________________ Amount of Toys Selected __________________ My Responce: Aug 18th 2009 Subject: Questions about assembling toys After I send you my registration fee and refundabe deposit for the toys, how long before I receive my package? You said you give me a month to to assemble the toys, but what if can assembe it in a week? Can I do this as a weekly package? I am looking at the 1700 toy package. Do you have a limit? What would be the fastest way to send you my money so I can get started? I will be able to do this on the 3rd of September. Thank You for your time Safwatoys Responce: Aug 18th 2009 Subject: Questions about assembling toys get a money gram money order and go to ups and send it off My Responce: Aug 18th 2009 Subject: Questions about assembling toys Can I do this weekly, rather than monthly? 1700 toys that is Safwatoys Responce: Aug 19th 2009 Subject: Questions about assembling toys you can assemble monthly or weekly its all up to you My Responce: Aug 19th 2009 Subject: Questions about assembling toys Very Good. Now how long does it take to get my package after I send you $410? That is what I would need to send for 1700 right? Safwatoys Responce: Aug 19 2009 Subject: Questions about assembling toys Yes, that amount is correct. Shipping just depends on where you live My Responce: Aug 19th 2009 Subject: Questions about assembling toys As far as the 1099 goes: My mother and I will both be doing this. Would it be easier to both get the 900 toy package? Or can you split the 1099 two ways for the 1700 toy package? Half it right down the middle. One in her name and one in my name? Thank You for taking the time to answer all my questions. Safwatoys Responce: Aug 19th 2009 Subject: Questions about assembling toys yes that's fine you both can send $90 apiece and you can slip the $299.99 for the 1700 toys My Responce: Aug 31st 2009 Subject: Question about toys Hi, Well, as I said before I will be sending for a toy package on 9-3-09. I just wanted to know if I send my money gram or western union money order to you OVERNIGHT will you send me my package of toys OVERNIGHT back to me? Thanks Again, P.S. I live in California Safwatoys Responce: Aug 31st 2009 Subject: Question about toys We cant overnight the toys because it to heavy so they will be sent ground by UPS My Responce: Aug 31st 2009 Subject: Question about toys Now for 900 toys I need to send $90 plus $165.99 making that the grand total of $255.99. Is that correct? Safwatoys Responce: Sept 1st 2009 Subject: Question about toys Yes, that is correct. When you send in the money order please email us your tracking number My Responce: Sept 1st 2009 Subject: Question about toys 1) Should I have a signature put on the package along with the tracking number they give me? I will be overnighting this. 2) How long after you receive my money, will it be before you can ship out my package? Will you ship right away? Safwatoys Responce: Sept 2end 2009 Subject: Question about toys 1) Should I have a signature put on the package along with the tracking number they give me? I will be overnighting this. Yes, you can put a signature on the package. You can over night the package, once you do please email us your tracking information. 2) How long after you receive my money, will it be before you can ship out my package? Will you ship right away? Shipping normally depends on where you live My Responce: Sept 3rd 2009 Subject: Tracking Information: SENT $$ Okay, I sent you a (money gram, money order) for $255.99 over night express via United States Post Office. They said it will be arriving 12 noon Chicago time on Friday September 4th. The tracking number is "Gave tracking number". Will you be sending me an email when you send me my shipment of toys? Looking forward to working with you! Thanks a lot. Have a great Labor Day! Gave my contact information once again Safwatoys Responce: Sept 4th 2009 Subject: Tracking Information: SENT $$ Hello- Yes, we are processing you now. With shipping and processing it normally takes about 14 business days, not including Saturday or Sunday. It only takes this long the first time because we have to put you into our system and make sure that all of your information is correct so that we don't send they toys to an incorrect address with the wrong information. So we have to process you into our system which takes a few days and then we have to ship it out to you which is more time. We want to make sure that all of your information is correct, because we don't want to send out materials out the wrong information and then your upset at us because we went by the information provide to us by you. We want you to be apart of this company so we want to make sure that everything is correct. My Responce: Sept 4th 2009 Subject: Tracking Information: SENT $$ Okay, sounds good. Hope to have my shipment by the 24th of September. Maybe sooner? If at all possible. Talk to you in two weeks. One more thing, Will you be sending me an e-mail when you do ship? So I know to look for your package. No Responce: My Responce: Sept 14th 2009 Subject: Hello Hi There. I was just wondering the status of my shipment of toys. When should I be on the look out for my package? I live in California. Thanks, Again I gave my contact information Safwatoys Responce: Sept 15th 2009 Subject: Hello Shipping just depends on where you live. we send it ground by UPS My Responce: Sept 15th 2009 Subject: Hello I understand that it depends on where I live. As I said before I live in California 95965. I was just wondering if you have shipped my package yet? Thanks again, Safwatoys Responce: Sept 15th 2009 Subject: Hello Hello, We are waiting on a shipment because we had workers order more toys that expected. We are expecting a shipment soon and then your cars will go out. We would like to let you know your money is not at any risk dealing with this company. I want to deeply apologize to you for all of this hassle that you are going through with Safwa. If you have any questions, please let me know. My Responce: Sept 24th 2009 Subject: Toy shipment??? Hi.... Well today is Thursday Sept 24, 2009. This should be the day I am suppose to receive my toy package! You said up to 14 days not including weekends and I also did not count Labor Day. I sent you my money overnight and you received it on Friday Sept 4th, 2009... So checking the status of my shipment. On Sept 15th,2009 you sent an apology saying you are expecting a shipment soon and then my cars will be sent to me. Have you sent me my package yet? I live in Oroville, CA.... Please let me know my status for shipment Thanks Again Safwatoys Responce:Sept 24th 2009 Subject: Toy shipment??? No, we wont have an arrival date for the toys until they reach customs. At that point is when we will have a date for you to receive your toys. My Responce: Sept 24th 2009 Subject: Toy shipment??? How long do you think this is going to take??? Safwatoys Responce: Sept 27th 2009 Subject: Toy shipment??? We can't say right now because the shipment has to arrive then it has to go through customs because it's coming from overseas. Then once it's out of customs then it will be shipped to us, then it will be shipped to you. My Responce: Sept 28th 2009 Subject: Toy shipment??? Well how long have you been waiting for your order? How long does customs usually take? What is the status of this hold up? I would really like to know. It has been almost a month now since I sent you my money. I haven't even received anything from your company reassuring me that this is the real deal. I am starting to worry a bit now. I know from past e-mails that more than one question to an e-mail gets confusing for you and I am usually only answered one question out of the three or four that I ask, but if you would please take the time and answer my questions, maybe I would feel better? Maybe send me some concrete evidence in the mail that, this is a real company and I didn't just send my money to "some fly by night, rip off e-mail address". Again I will give you my mailing address. Thanks again for your time. Please keep me informed! Again gave my contact information Safwatoys Responce: Sept 29th 2009 Subject: Toy shipment??? No, we havent gotten our toys yet. We will not know an arrival date until it reaches customs. At that point is when we will know when to expect the toys. Once we know that, then we will email you and let you know when to expect your toys because we know that you are very eager to start assembling the toys. My Responce: Oct 5th 2009 Subject: It has been a month Where is my shipment? You received payment a month ago! Gave my contact information No Responce: My Responce: Oct 11th 2009 Subject: Toy shipment?? So, I have written you and you have not responded to me. You will be receiving this e-mail on Monday October 12,2009... I sent you my money and you received it on Sept 4th, 2009... Just how long is this going to take? I think you should have definitely gotten YOUR shipment by now. My question is WHERE IS MINE? If you still have no idea... I think you better just send me back my money! I am not a very happy person at this point and I don't like being left in the dark with no answers for over a month! Sincerely, Gave contact information No Responce: My Responce: Oct 13th 2009 Subject: HELLO!! I have written you two e-mails you have NOT responded to. I would like to know where my shipment is, or I would like my money refunded to me now! No Responce: My Responce: Oct 14th 2009 Subject: So I guess I need to contact the BBB? Again I have not heard from you concerning my shipment of toys or my money that I sent to you last month. I guess I need to contact the Better Business Bureau and the FBI. I will do all I can to see that your company is shut down and put out of business. I will also be posting all e-mails on many scam websites so that many others do not not get ripped off like this. I want my money back! You have 24 hours to get back in touch with me or I will be making my contacts and reporting you as a non-reputable company and as a scam company! Today is Wednesday October 14,2009. For the last time I gave my contact information I Have not heard from this company and yes they have ripped me off! Do Not SEND this company Safwatoys any money it is a scam! I hope this helps anyone thinking about getting involved in this company.... BEWARE! BAD IDEA!
Where did caffeine originate from?
Humans have consumed caffeine since the Stone Age. Early peoples found that chewing the seeds, bark, or leaves of certain plants had the effects of easing fatigue, stimulating awareness, and elevating one's mood. Only much later was it found that the effect of caffeine was increased by steeping such plants in hot water. Many cultures have legends that attribute the discovery of such plants to people living many thousands of years ago.According to one popular Chinese legend, the Emperor of China Shennong, reputed to have reigned in about 3000 BC, accidentally discovered that when some leaves fell into boiling water, a fragrant and restorative drink resulted. Shennong is also mentioned in Lu Yu's Cha Jing, a famous early work on the subject of tea. The history of coffee has been recorded as far back as the ninth century. During that time, coffee beans were available only in their native habitat, Ethiopia. A popular legend traces its discovery to a goatherder named Kaldi, who apparently observed goats that became elated and sleepless at night after grazing on coffee shrubs and, upon trying the berries that the goats had been eating, experienced the same vitality. The earliest literary mention of coffee may be a reference to Bunchum in the works of the 9th-century Persian physician al-Razi. In 1587, Malaye Jaziri compiled a work tracing the history and legal controversies of coffee, entitled "Undat al safwa fi hill al-qahwa". In this work, Jaziri recorded that one Sheikh, Jamal-al-Din al-Dhabhani, mufti of Aden, was the first to adopt the use of coffee in 1454, and that in the 15th century the Sufis of Yemen routinely used coffee to stay awake during prayers.Towards the close of the 16th century, the use of coffee was recorded by a European resident in Egypt, and about this time it came into general use in the Near East. The appreciation of coffee as a beverage in Europe, where it was first known as "Arabian wine," dates from the 17th century. A legend states that, after the Ottoman Turks retreated from the walls of Vienna after losing a battle for the city, many sacks of coffee beans were found among their baggage. Europeans did not know what to do with all the coffee beans, being unfamiliar with them. So Franz George Kolschitzky, a Pole who had actually worked for the Turks, offered to take them. He subsequently taught the Viennese how to make coffee, and the first coffee house in the Western world was opened in Vienna, thus starting a long tradition of coffee appreciation. In Britain, the first coffee houses were opened in London in 1652, at St Michael's Alley, Cornhill. They soon became popular throughout Western Europe, and played a significant role in social relations in the 17th and 18th centuries.The kola nut, like the coffee berry and tea leaf, appears to have ancient origins. It is chewed in many West African cultures, individually or in a social setting, to restore vitality and ease hunger pangs. In 1911, kola became the focus of one of the earliest documented health scares when the US government seized 40 barrels and 20 kegs of Coca-Cola syrup in Chattanooga, Tennessee, alleging that the caffeine in its drink was "injurious to health". On March 13, 1911, the government initiated United States v. Forty Barrels and Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola, hoping to force Coca-Cola to remove caffeine from its formula by making claims, such as that the excessive use of Coca-Cola at one girls' school led to "wild nocturnal freaks, violations of college rules and female proprieties, and even immoralities." Although the judge ruled in favor of Coca-Cola, two bills were introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1912 to amend the Pure Food and Drug Act, adding caffeine to the list of "habit-forming" and "deleterious" substances, which must be listed on a product's label.The earliest evidence of cocoa bean use comes from residue found in an ancient Mayan pot dated to 600 BC. In the New World, chocolate was consumed in a bitter and spicy drink called xocoatl, often seasoned with vanilla, Chile pepper, and achiote. Xocoatl was believed to fight fatigue, a belief that is probably attributable to the theobromine and caffeine content. Chocolate was an important luxury good throughout pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and cocoa beans were often used as currency.Xocoatl was introduced to Europe by the Spaniards and became a popular beverage by 1700. They also introduced the cacao tree into the West Indies and the Philippines. It was used in alchemical processes, where it was known as Black Bean.The leaves and stems of the Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) were used by Native Americans to brew a tea called Asi or the "black drink". Archaeologists have found evidence of this use stretch back far into antiquity, possibly dating to Late Archaic times.Source: Wikipedia
Who is Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn hanbal abu abd Allah al-dhuhli al-shaybani al-marwazi al-baghdadi explain in brief?
Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal, Abu `Abd Allah al-Dhuhli al-Shaybani al-Marwazi al-BaghdadiAhmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal, Abu `Abd Allah al-Dhuhli al-Shaybani al-Marwazi al-Baghdadi (d. 241). Al-Dhahabi says of him: "The true Shaykh of Islam and leader of the Muslims in his time, the hadith master and proof of the Religion. He took hadith from Hushaym, Ibrahim ibn Sa`d, Sufyan ibn `Uyayna, `Abbad ibn `Abbad, Yahya ibn Abi Za'Ida, and their layer. From him narrated al-Bukhari [two hadiths in the Sahih], Muslim [22], Abu Dawud [254], Abu Zur`a, Mutayyan, `Abd Allah ibn Ahmad, Abu al-Qasim al-Baghawi, and a huge array of scholars. His father was a soldier û one of those who called to Islam û and he died young." Al-Dhahabi continues:`Abd Allah ibn Ahmad said: "I heard Abu Zur`a [al-Razi] say: 'Your father had memorized a million hadiths, which I rehearsed with him according to topic.'"Hanbal said: "I heard Abu `Abd Allah say: 'I memorized everything which I heard from Hushaym when he was alive.'"Ibrahim al-Harbi said: "I held Ahmad as one for whom Allah had gathered up the combined knowledge of the first and the last."Harmala said: "I heard al-Shafi`i say: 'I left Baghdad and did not leave behind me anyone more virtuous (afdal), more learned (a`lam), more knowledgeable (afqah) than Ahmad ibn Hanbal.'"`Ali ibn al-Madini said: "Truly, Allah reinforced this Religion with Abu Bakr al-Siddiq the day of the Great Apostasy (al-Ridda), and He reinforced it with Ahmad ibn Hanbal the day of the Inquisition (al-Mihna)."Abu `Ubayd said: "The Science at its peak is in the custody of four men, of whom Ahmad ibn Hanbal is the most knowledgeable."Ibn Ma`in said, as related by `Abbas [al-Duri]: "They meant for me to be like Ahmad, but û by Allah! û I shall never in my life compare to him."Muhammad ibn Hammad al-Taharani said: "I heard Abu Thawr say: 'Ahmad is more learned û or knowledgeable û than al-Thawri.'"Al-Dhahabi concludes: "Al-Bayhaqi wrote Abu `Abd Allah's biography (sîra) in one volume, so did Ibn al-Jawzi, and also Shaykh al-Islam [`Abd Allah al-Harawi] al-Ansari in a brief volume. He passed on to Allah's good pleasure on the day of Jum`a, the twelfth of Rabi` al-Awwal in the year 241, at the age of seventy-seven. I have two of his short-chained narrations (`awâlîh), and a licence (ijâza) for the entire Musnad." Al-Dhahabi's chapter on Imam Ahmad in Siyar A`lam al-Nubala' counts no less than 113 pages.One of the misunderstandings prevalent among the "Salafis" who misrepresent Imam Ahmad's school today is his position regarding kalâm or dialectic theology. It is known that he was uncompromisingly opposed to kalâm as a method, even if used as a means to defend the truth, preferring to stick to the plain narration of textual proofs and abandoning all recourse to dialectical or rational ones. Ibn al-Jawzi relates his saying: "Do not sit with the people of kalâm, even if they defend the Sunna." This attitude is at the root of his disavowal of al-Muhasibi. It also explains the disaffection of later Hanbalis towards Imam al-Ash`ari and his school, despite his subsequent standing as the Imam of Sunni Muslims par excellence. The reasons for this rift are now obsolete although the rift has amplified beyond all recognizable shape, as it is evident, in retrospect, that opposition to Ash`aris, for various reasons, came out of a major misunderstanding of their actual contributions within the Community, whether as individuals or as a whole.There are several general reasons why the Hanbali-mutakallim rift should be considered artificial and obsolete. First, kalâm in its original form was an innovation in Islam (bid`a) against which there was unanimous opposition among Ahl al-Sunna. The first to use kalâm were true innovators opposed to the Sunna, and in the language of the early scholars kalâm was synonymous with the doctrines of the Qadariyya, Murji'a, Jahmiyya, Jabriyya, Rawâfid, and Mu`tazila and their multifarious sub-sects. This is shown by the examples Ibn Qutayba gives of kalâm and mutakallimûn in his book Mukhtalif al-Hadith, none of which belongs to Ahl al-Sunna. Similarly the adherents of kalâm brought up in the speech of al-Hasan al-Basri, Ibn al-Mubarak, Ibn Rahuyah, Imam al-Shafi`i and the rest of the pre-Hanbali scholars of hadith are the innovators of the above-mentioned sects, not those who later opposed them using the same methods of reasoning. The latter cannot be put in the same category. Therefore the early blames of kalâm cannot be applied to them in the same breath with the innovators.Second, there is difference of opinion among the Salaf on the possible use of kalâm to defend the Sunna, notwithstanding Imam Ahmad's position quoted above. One reason why they disallowed it is wara`: because of extreme scrupulousness against learning and practicing a discipline initiated by the enemies of the Sunna. Thus they considered kalâm reprehensible but not forbidden, as is clear from their statements. For example, Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that al-Shafi`i said: "If I wanted to publish books refuting every single opponent [of the Sunna] I could easily do so, but kalâm is not for me, and I dislike that anything of it be attributed to me." This shows that al-Shafi`i left the door open for others to enter a field which he abstained from entering out of strict Godwariness.Third, kalâm is a difficult, delicate science which demands a mind above the norm. The imams forbade it as a sadd al-dharî`a or pre-empting measure. They rightly foresaw that unless one possessed an adequate capacity to practice it, one was courting disaster. This was the case with Ahmad's student Abu Talib, and other early Hanbalis who misinterpreted Ahmad's doctrinal positions as Bukhari himself stated. Bukhari, Ahmad, and others of the Salaf thus experienced first hand that one who played with kalâm could easily lapse into heresy, innovation, or disbelief. This was made abundantly clear in Imam Malik's answer to the man who asked how Allah established Himself over the Throne: "The establishment is known, the 'how' is inconceivable, and to ask about it is an innovation!" Malik's answer is the essence of kalâm at the same time as it warns against the misuse of kalâm, as observed by the late Dr. Abu al-Wafa' al-Taftazani. Malik's reasoning is echoed by al-Shafi`i's advice to his student al-Muzani: "Take proofs from creation in order to know about the Creator, and do not burden yourself with the knowledge of what your mind did not reach." Similarly, Ibn Khuzayma and Ibn Abi Hatim admitted their technical ignorance of the science of kalâm, at the same time acknowledging its possible good use by qualified experts. As for Ibn Qutayba, he regretted his kalâm days and preferred to steer completely clear of it.In conclusion, any careful reader of Islamic intellectual history can see that if the Ash`ari scholars of kalâm had not engaged and defeated the various theological and philosophical sects on their own terrain, the silence of Ahl al-Sunnamight well have sealed their defeat at the hands of their opponents. This was indicated by Taj al-Din al-Subki who spoke of the obligatoriness of kalâm in certain specific circumstances, as opposed to its superfluousness in other times. "The use of kalâm in case of necessity is a legal obligation (wajib), and to keep silence about kalâm in case other than necessity is a sunna."The biographical notice on Imam Ahmad in the Reliance of the Traveller reads: "Out of piety, Imam Ahmad never gave a formal legal opinion (fatwa) while Shafi`i was in Iraq, and when he later formulated his school of jurisprudence, he mainly drew on explicit texts from the [Qur'an], hadith, and scholarly consensus, with relatively little expansion from analogical reasoning (qiyâs). He was probably the most learned in the sciences of hadith of the four great Imams of Sacred Law, and his students included many of the foremost scholars of hadith. Abu Dawud said of him: 'Ahmad's gatherings were gatherings of the afterlife: nothing of this world was mentioned. Never once did I hear him mention this-worldly things.' ... He never once missed praying in the night, and used to recite the entire [Qur'an] daily. He said, 'I saw the Lord of Power in my sleep, and said, "O Lord, what is the best act through which those near to You draw nearer?" and He answered, "Through [reciting] (sic) My word, O Ahmad." I asked, "With understanding, or without?" and He answered, "With understanding and without."'. . . Ahmad was imprisoned and tortured for twenty-eight months under the Abbasid caliph al-Mu`tasim in an effort to force him to publicly espouse the [Mu`tazila] position that the Holy [Qur'an] was created, but the Imam bore up unflinchingly under the persecution and refused to renounce the belief of Ahl al-Sunna that the [Qur'an] is the uncreated word of Allah, after which Allah delivered and vindicated him. When Ahmad died in 241/855, he was accompanied to his resting place by a funeral procession of eight hundred thousand men and sixty thousand women, marking the departure of the last of the four great mujtahid Imams of Islam."Ibn al-Jawzi narrates from Bilal al-Khawass that the latter met al-Khidr and asked him: "What do you say of al-Shafi`i?" He said: "One of the Pillar-Saints (Awtâd)." "Ahmad ibn Hanbal?" "He is a Siddîq."Main sources: al-Dhahabi, Siyar A`lam al-Nubala'9:434-547 #1876 and Tadhkira al-Huffaz 2:431 #438.Select BibliographyAbu Nu`aym al-Asfahani. Hilya al-Awliya' WA Tabaqat al-Asfiya'. 12 vols. Ed. Mustafa `Abd al-Qadir `Ata. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-`Ilmiyya, 1997.Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Al-Musnad. 20 vols. Ed. Ahmad Shakir and Hamza Ahmad al-Zayn. Cairo: Dar al-Hadith, 1995.Al-Bayhaqi, Abu Bakr. Al-Asma' WA al-Sifat. Ed. Muhammad Zahid al-Kawthari. Beirut: Dar Ihya' al-Turath al-`Arabi, n.d. Reprint of 1358H. Cairo edition.-------. Al-Asma' WA al-Sifat. 2 vols. Ed. `Abd Allah al-Hashidi. Riyad: Maktaba al-Sawadi, 1993.Al-Dhahabi, Muhammad Shams al-Din. Tadhkira al-Huffaz. Edition including a last volume entitled Dhayl Tadhkira al-Huffaz which comprises al-Husayni's Dhayl Tadhkira al-Huffaz, Muhammad ibn Fahd al-Makki's Lahz al-Alhaz bi Dhayl Tadhkira al-Huffaz, and al-Suyuti's Dhayl Tabaqat al-Huffaz.-------. Siyar A`lam al-Nubala'. 19 vols. Ed. Muhibb al-Din al-`Amrawi. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, 1996.Al-Ghumari, `Abd Allah. Irgham al-Mubtadi` al-Ghabi bi Jawaz al-Tawassul bi al-Nabi. Ed. Hasan `Ali al-Saqqaf. 2nd ed. Amman: Dar al-Imam al-Nawawi, 1992.Ibn Abi `Asim. Al-Sunna. Ed. M. Nasir al-Din al-Albani. Beirut and Damascus: Al-Maktab al-Islami, 1993.Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani. Al-Jami` fi al-Sunan WA al-Adab WA al-Maghazi WA al-Tarikh. Ed. M. Abu al-Ajfan and `Uthman Battikh. Beirut: Mu'assasa al-Risala; Tunis: al-Maktaba al-`Atiqa, 1982.Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalani. Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari. 14 vols. Notes by `Abd al-`Aziz ibn Baz. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-`Ilmiyya, 1989.-------. Ibidem. Cairo: al-Matba`a al-Bahiyya, 1348 H.-------. Al-Isaba fi Tamyiz al-Sahaba. 8 vols. Calcutta, 1853.-------. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib. 10 vols. 1st ed. Hyderabad: Da'IRA al-Ma`arif al-Nizamiyya, 1327H.-------. Taqrib al-Tahdhib. Ed. Muhammad `Awwama. Aleppo: Dar al-Rashid, 1997.-------. Tawali al-Ta'sis li Ma`ali Muhammad ibn Idris. Ed. `Abd Allah al-Qadi. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-`Ilmiyya, 1986.Ibn Hibban. Sahih Ibn Hibban bi Tartib Ibn Balban. 18 vols. Ed. Shu`ayb al-Arna'ut. Beirut: Mu'assasa al-Risala, 1993.Ibn al-Jawzi. Manaqib al-Imam Ahmad. 2nd ed. Ed. Muhammad Amin al-Khanji al-Kutbi. Beirut: Khanji WA Hamdan, 1349H.-------. Sifa al-Safwa. 2 vols. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-`Ilmiyya, 1989.Ibn Kathir. Al-Bidaya WA al-Nihaya. 15 vols. Ed. Editing Board of al-Turath. Beirut: Dar Ihya' al-Turath al-`Arabi, 1993.Ibn Qudama. Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Qasidin li Ibn al-Jawzi. Ed. M. Ahmad Hamdan and `Abd al-Qadir al-Arna'ut. 2nd. ed. Damascus: Maktab al-Shabab al-Muslim WA al-Maktab al-Islami, 1961.Ibn Taymiya. Dar' Ta`arud al-`Aql WA al-Naql. Ed. Muhammad al-Sayyid Julaynid. Cairo: Mu'assasa al-Ahram, 1988.-------. Majmu` Fatawa Ibn Taymiyya. 36 vols. Cairo, 1404H.Al-Kawthari, Muhammad Zahid. Maqalat. Riyadh and Beirut: Dar al-Ahnaf, 1993.Keller, Noah Ha Mim, ed. and trans. The Reliance of the Traveller. Dubai: Modern Printing Press, 1991. Translation of Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri's `Umda al-Salik.Al-Khalili. Al-Irshad fi Ma`rifa `Ulama' al-Hadith. Ed. Muhammad Sa`id ibn Umar Idris. 3 vols. Riyad : Maktaba al-Rushd, 1989.Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi. Tarikh Baghdad. vols. Madina: al-Maktaba al-Salafiyya, n.d.Al-Mubarakfuri. Tuhfa al-Ahwadhi bi Sharh Jami` al-Tirmidhi. 10 vols. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-`Ilmiyya, 1990.Al-Nawawi. Sharh Sahih Muslim. 18 vols. Ed. Khalil al-Mays. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-`Ilmiyya, n.d.-------. Tahdhib al-Asma' WA al-Lughat. Cairo: Idara al-Tiba`a al-Muniriyya, [1927?].-------. Al-Taqrib WA al-Taysir li Ma`rifa Sunan al-Bashir al-Nadhir. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-`Ilmiyya, 1987.Al-Sakhawi, Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Rahman. Al-Jawahir WA al-Durar fi Manaqib Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Hajar. Cairo: Lajna Ihya' al-Turath al-Islami, 1986.Al-Subki, Taj al-Din. Tabaqat al-Shafi`iyya al-Kubra. 10 vols. Ed. Mahmud M. al-Tannahi and `Abd al-Fattah M. al-Hilw. 2nd. ed. Jiza: Dar Hijr, 1992.Al-Suyuti, Jalal al-Din. Tarikh al-Khulafa'. Ed. Rahab Khidr `Akkawi. Beirut: Mu'assasa `Izz al-Din, 1992.
