«صدقَ أرطأةُ، والقولُ ما قالَ، هذا يَنهىَ عن ذكرِهم، ومتَى يُحذَرُوا إذا لم يُشاد بذكرِهم؟!»

"Arṭa'ah is correct, and the statement he made is true. This person discourages mentioning them, but when will they be warned against if they are not mentioned?" [Tārīkh Dimashq, (8/15)] Al-Awzā’ē, may Allāh have mercy on him, also said: «مَنْ سَتَرَ عَلَيْنَا بِدْعَتَهُ، لَمْ تَخْفَ عَلَيْنَا أُلْفَتَهُ» “Whoever hides his innovation from us, his companionship (with innovators) will not remain hidden from us.”[Al-Ibānah by Ibn Baṭṭah (2/479)] Al-‘Akburi (Ibn Baṭṭah) narrated: When Sufyān Ath-Thawri arrived in Baṣrah, he began investigating the matter of Ar-Rabī’—meaning Ibn Ṣubayḥ—and his status among the people. He asked: "What is his school of thought?" They replied: "His only school is the Sunnah." He asked: "Who are his close associates?" They said: "The people of Qadar (those who denied divine preordainment)." He responded: "Then he is a Qadari." Source: Al-Ajwibah Al-Athariyyah ’an Al-Masā'il Al-Manhajiyyah (27-29)