Was Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) an Ash'ari?

Ibn Kathir was a jurist, a Hadith scholar, and an exegete (mufassir). He was a Salafi, adhering to the creed of the early Muslims (Salaf). He believed in what came in the Quran and Sunnah concerning the attributes of Allah, without takyif (speculation on modality), tashbih (resemblance), or ta'til (negation). It has been narrated from him that he said: "The safest path in this regard is the way of the Salaf: accepting what has come in the Book and the Sunnah regarding this without takyif, tahrif (distortion), tashbih, ta'til, or tamthil (likening)." He also held Ibn Taymiyyah in high esteem and agreed with him in affirming the creed of theaf, and he clarified that legitimate faith is both speech and action, increasing and decreasing.