Among those who called to Allah, from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: He is the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, who called to Islam and did good deeds between himself and his Lord, and made Islam his creed. And from him: They are the companions of the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him. And from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her: We never doubted that this verse was revealed regarding the callers to prayer, and it is general for everyone who combines these three: to be a monotheist believing in the religion of Islam, doing good, and calling to it. They are nothing but the class of the knowledgeable and righteous among the people of justice and monotheism, the callers to the religion of Allah. [In the phrase 'the knowledgeable and righteous among the people of justice and monotheism, the callers', if he meant by them the Mu'tazila, they named themselves that, so there is no reason for specification.] And His saying, 'And he said, indeed I am of the Muslims,' the purpose is not that he spoke this saying, but he made the religion of Islam his doctrine and belief, just as you say: This is the saying of Abu Hanifa, meaning his doctrine.