It is correct that he recanted and the book “al-Ibānah” and the book “Maqālāt al-Islāmiyyīn” indicate that he recanted.

Know may Allāh have mercy upon you that Islām and its people are attacked and destroyed by three groups...

So Allāh is Blessed and Exalted from that evil should be ascribed to him. Rather, everything that is ascribed to him is good. Evil only becomes evil when it ceases to be attributed and ascribed to Him...

There are generalities [shared between them] and specifics [unique to each of them]. Shirk is more general than kufr, for every mushrik is a kāfir but not every kāfir is a mushrik.

And the reality of the matter is that every faction makes taʾwīl (figurative interpretation) of that which opposes its creed and madhhab.

It has been stated by more than one among the People of Knowledge about this ḥadīth and what resembles it from the narrations, such as the Attributes, and the descent of our Lord [twt] to the lowest heaven every night. So they say: ‘Affirm these narrations, have faith in them, do not deny them, nor ask how.’