This is part 4 of 5 of “The Book of Tawhid (Oneness of Allah)”, book 4 of Al-Kafi — Hadith 364–413. The book is long enough that it is split across 5 pages so each one stays quick to load; the parts run in order and are linked at the foot of the page.
1. It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hajjal from abu Ishaq Tha‘laba from Zurara ibn A‘yun from one of the two Imams who has said the following. “Allah is best worshipped with belief in al-Bada’. In another Hadith from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said, “Allah’s Greatness is not realized as good as it is realized with belief in al-Bad.”
2. It is narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim and Hafs ibn al-Bakhtari and others from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) whos has said the following about the words of Allah. “God establishes or effaces whatever He wants . .” (13:39) The Imam (a.s.) said, “Can anything be affaced without being established? Can anything be esblished unless it is out of nothing?”
3. It is narrated from Ali from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah did not send any messenger without three conditions. (a) Acknowledgement of being His servant and worshipper (b) To acknowledge that there is nothing like Him and (c) that Allah may bring forwards whatever He would so will and takes backwards whatever He would so will.”
4. It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from Zurara from humran from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “I asked the Imam about the words of Allah, “It is He who has created you from clay to live for a life-time and the span of your life is only known to Him. . .” (6:2) The Imam said, “There are two appointed times. One is is a definit time and the other is the conditional one.”
5. It is narrated from Ahmad ibn Mahran from ‘Abdal ‘Azim ibn ‘Abdallah al-Hassani from Ali ibn Asbat from Khalaf ibn Hammad from ibn Maskan from Malik al-Juhanni who has said the following. “I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah “Does he not remember that We created him when he did not exist?” (19:67) The Imam (a.s.) said, “It means that he did not exist in a definit or in the form of a being.” I asked the Imam about the words of Allah, “There was certainly a time when there was no mention of the human being” (76:1) The Imam said, “ It was definit but not mentioned.”
6. It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Rabi‘ ibn ‘Abdallah from al-fudayl ibn Yasar who has said the following. “I heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) saying, “There are two kinds of knolwedge. One kind is hidden with Allah of which no one of his creatures has any information. The other kind of knowledge is the knowledge of His angels and His messengers. Whatever knowledge He has given to His angels and messengers it will come to pass. He will not speak a lie not will He let His angels or messengers to do so. The knowledge that is hidden with Him of this He brings forwards whatever He would will and takes back whatever would He will so and establishes whatever would He will so.”
7. It is narrated from a number of our people from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Ja‘far ibn ‘Uthman from Suma‘a from abu Basir and Wahab ibn Hafs from abu Basir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah has two kinds of knowledge. There is the hidden, treasured knowledge of which one has any information except Allah. From this knowledge comes al-Bada’. There is the knowledge that Allah has given to His angels, His messengers and His prophets and we know this knowledge.”
8. It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn sa‘id from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Abdallah ibn Sinan from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Nothing appeared to Allah in a thing except that He knew it before al-Bada’ would take place.”
9. It is narrated from him from Ahmad from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Faddal from Dawud ibn Farqad from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman al-Juhanni from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Al-Bada’ does not takke place to Allah out of ignorance.”
10. It is narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from Muhammad ibn ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Mansur ibn Hazim who has said the following. I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), “Can anything happen today that was not in the knowledge of Allah the day before?’ The Imam (a.s.) said, “No, this does not happen. Whoever would say so Allah will make him to suffer a great deal.” I then said, “Do you consider that all that were there and all that will take place up to the Day of Judgment are all in the knowledge of Allah?” The Imam said, “Yes, it was so before He created the creatures.”
11. It is narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad from Yunus from Malik al-Juhanni who has said the following. “I heard Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, ‘Had the people known of the reward in the belief in al-Bada’ there would have been no weakness in their words about it.”
12. It is narrated from a number of our peole from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid fro some of our people from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr al-Kufi brother of Yahya from Murazim ibn Hakimwhos has said the following. I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, “No prophet has ever proclaimed prophethood before acknowledging before Allah about five things. Acknowledgement of al-Bada’, of the wish of Allah, the prostration, affirmation of worshipping and obedience.”
13. With the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad from Yunus from Jahm ibn abu Jahma from whom he narrated from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, inform Prophet Muhammad about all that was there from the beginning of the world and that will be there to the end of the world. He informed him about is definit in them and made an except about what is otherwise.”
14. It is narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from al-Rayyan ibn al-Salt who has said the following. “I heard Imam al-Rida (a.s.) saying, “Allah never sent a prophet without the law that prohibits the use of wine and without belief in al-Bada.’”
15. It is narrated from al-Husayn ibn Muhammad from Mu’alla ibn Muhammad who has said the following. “The ‘Alim (scholar) was asked, ‘How is the knowledge of Allah?” He replied, “He knew, He wanted, He willed, He measured, He decreed and He allowed it to happen. He let happen what He had decreed and decreed what he had measured and measured what He had willed. From His knowledge was His wish. From His wish was His will and from His will was His measuring. From His measuring was His decree and from His decree was His letting it to happen. Knowledge is before the wish. The wish is the second and the will is the third. Measuring happens up on the decree to let it happen. For Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, there is al-Bada’ in whatever He knows when He wants and in the will to measure things. When the decree is issued to let it happen then there is no al-Bada’. Thus, the knowledge of the object of knowledge is before it comes into existence. The wish for the object of wish is before its substance. The will in what iis willed iis before it is established. The measuring of these objects of knowledge is before their details and before their reaching the stage of being manifested in their substance and time. The decree to let it happen is decisive in the acts with body and what is perceived with the senses of the colored having smells and weight and measurement and things walking, crawling and creeping on earth of man, Jinn, birds, beasts and others that are comprehended with the senses. Al-Bada’ happens with Allah in the matters that have no substance. When substance and meaning would appear then there is no al-Bada’. Allah does whatever He wants. With knowledge He has the knowledge of the things before their coming into existence. With the wish He has the knowledge their qualities and their limits. He invented them before they became manifest. With the will He distinguished them in their colors and qualities. With measurement He measured their sustenance and and made their beginning and end. With the decree Ahe made public for people theiir places and guided them thereto. With the letting them to happen He explained the reaasons and made the affairs public. This how is the planing of the Most Majestic, the All-knowing.”
1. It is narrated from a number of our people from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id and Muhammad ibn Khalid altogether from Fudala ibn Ayyub from Muhammad ibn ‘Ammara from Hariz ibn ‘Abdallah and ‘Abdallah ibn Maskan altogether from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who said the following. “There is nothing in the heavens and on earth without these seven charateristics: the wish, the will, the measure, the decree, the permission, the record and duration.Whoever thinks that he can do without any one of these he has become a unbeliever.” From Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Muhammad ibn Hafs from Muhammad ibn ‘Ammara from Hariz ibn ‘Abdallah and ibn Maskan a similar Hadith is narrated.
2. He has narrated it from his father from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Zakariya ibn ‘Imran from abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. There is nothing in heavens or on earth without seven: the decree, the measure, the will, the wish, the record (book) the duration and the permission. Whoever, would think something else he certainly has spoken a lie against Allah or has rejected Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.
1. It is narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abdallah from his father from Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Daylami from Ali ibn Ibrahim al-Hashimi who has said the following. “I heard abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) saying, ‘There can nothing until Allah would wish it to be, will, measure and decree.” I asked what is the meaning of wish (Sha’a)? The Imam replied, “It is to begin the act.” I asked, “What is the meaning of measure (Qaddara)? The Imam replied, “It is measuring the length and the width of something.” I asked what is the meaning of decree (Qada)? The Imam replied, “When He decrees He lets it happen and this is when it becomes unavoidable to happen.”
2. It is narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from Aban from abu Basir who has said the following. “asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about, “(Allah) Wished, Willed, Measured and Decreed.” The Imam said, “Yes.” I asked, “Did He love?” The Imam said, “No.” I asked, “How is it that He wished, willed measured and decreed but did not love?” The Imam said, “This is how it has come to us.”
3. It is narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Aloi ibn Ma‘bad from Wasil ibn Sulayman from ‘Abdallah ibn Sinan who has said the following. “I hear Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, “Allah commanded but did not want. He wanted but did not command. He commanded Satan to prostrate but He did not want it. If He wanted Satan would have prostrated. He prohibited Adam from eating of the tree and wanted him to eat. Had He not wanted he would not have ate.”
4. It is narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from al-Mukhtar ibn Muhammad al-Hamadani and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hassan al-‘Alawi altogether from al-Fath ibn Yazid al-Jurjani from abu al-Hassan (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah has two wills and two wishes. He has a definite will and an intended will. He prohibits but He wants it. He commands but He does not want it. Consider that He prohibited Adam and his spouse from eating of the tree but He wanted them to eat. Had He not wanted their wish would not have surpassed Allah’s wish. He commanded Ibrahim to slaughter Ishaq but He did not want it to happen. Had He wanted it the wish of Ibrahim would not have surpassed the wish of Allah, the Most High.”
5. It is narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Ali ibn Ma‘bad from Durost ibn abu Mansur from Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said the following. “I heard Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, ‘He wanted and willed and did not love and did not agree. He wanted something nor to happen except in His knowledge and He willed in the same way but He did not love it to be said, “The third of the three and He did not agree that His servants become unbelievers.”
6. It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr who has that Imam abul Hassan al-Rida has said the following. “Allah said, ‘O son of Adam through My wish you came into existence and it is you who wish for yourself whatever you wish. Through My power you fulfill your obligations and through My bounties you receive strength to disobey Me. I made you made you to hear and see and be strong. Whatever good you receive is from Allah and whatever evil afflicts you is from your own-self. It is because I have priority to your good deeds and you have priority to your bad deeds. This is because I Ahmad ibn Muhammad not asked what I do but they are questioned ffor what they do.”
1. It is narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from Hamza ibn al-Tayyar from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “There is no expansion or reduction but that Allah therein has a wish, decree and testing.”
2. It is narrated from a number of our people from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Fudala ibn Ayyub from Hamza ibn Muhammad al-Tayyar from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “ There is nothing in which there is expansion or reduction of the matters that Allah has commanded or has prohibited except that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, therein has a decree and a testing.”
1. It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Saffron ibn Yahya from Mansur ibn Hazim from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah created good fortune and bad fortune before He created the creatures. Whoever Allah has created fortunate He never becomes angry with him even though he may do bad deeds. He to reach and nor do the deep diving intelligence is capable to grasp. Most High is Allah. It is He who is not subject to the effects of the numbered time or extended period or limited attributes. Glorious is Allah, Who has no beginning that started or a destination that would close or an end that would finish. Glorious is He Who is just as He Him Self has introduced. Those who speak of His attributes can never praise Him duly. He gave to everything a limit at the time of its creation for their non- similarity to Him and His none-similarity to them. For Him th of would dislike his deeds but his own self. If he is an unfortunate He would never love him even if he would do good deeds. He would love his deeds but not his own self because of what he will end up to. If Allah would love someone He will not dislike him and if He would dislike someone He will not love him.”
2. It is narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad (in a marfu‘ manner) from shu‘ayb al-‘aqaqufi from abu Basir who has said the following. “I was in presence of Imam abu ‘abdallah (a.s.) when a certain person asked him saying, ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, O great-great-great-great-grandson of the holy Prophet (s.a.), wherefrom misfortune took hold of the people committing sins and so Allah in His knowledge deemed it for them to suffer?” The Imam said, “It is the judgment of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High and no one has the right (to oppose it). When passed such judgment He gave to the people of love the ability to know Him and relieved them of the hardships of deeds by means of what they are capable of and He gave the people of sins the ability to commit sins due His early knowledge and denying them the power to accept from Him, thus, they agree with what is in His knowledge about them and they remain unable to do things that would save them from His punishment. It is because His knowledge is more preferred in the reality of judgment and acknowledgement and this is what is meant by He wanted what He wanted and it is His secret”
3. It is narrated from a number of our people from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd for Yahya ibn ‘Imran al-Halabi from Mu’alla ibn ‘Uthman from Ali ibn Hanzala from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) Who has said the following. The Imam said, “A fortunate person is made to walk on the path of the unfortunate ones so much so that people would say, “How similar has he become with them? In fact, he has become one of them. Then good fortune helps him. Sometimes a unfortunate one is made to walk on the path of the fortunate ones and people begins to say, “How similar has he become with them? In fact, he has become one of them. But misfortune takes hold of him. Whoever Allah has written to be of the fortunate ones, even if very little time, such equal to the period between two breast-feeding of a camel her young, would have been left from his life in this world Allah will make it end in good fortune.
A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ibn Mahbub and Ali ibn al-Hakam from Mu’awiya ibn Wahab from (Imam) abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who said the following: “I heard (Imam) abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, saying, ‘It was of the facts that Allah revealed to Moses and sent down in the Torah, ‘I am Allah, no one deserves to be obeyed and worshipped besides Me. I have created the creatures and created the Good and made it to run through the hands of those whom I love. Fortunate are those through whose hands I have made the Good to continue. I am Allah, no one deserves to be obeyed and worshipped besides Me. I created the creatures and created Evil and made it to run through the hands of whomever I wanted. Unfortunate, therefore, are those through whose hands I have made evil to run.’”
A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn Hakim from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said that he heard (Imam) abu Ja’far, recipient of divine supreme covenant, say the following: “In certain matters that Allah has revealed through His books is, ‘I am Allah. No one deserves to be obeyed and worshipped besides Me. I created the Good and Evil. Fortunate are those through whose hands I have made good to run and unfortunate are those through whose hands I have made evil to run and unfortunate are those who say, “How is this and how is that.’”
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Bakkar from Kardam, from Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar and ‘Abd al-Mu’min al-Ansari from (Imam) abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, ‘I am Allah. No one deserves to be obeyed and worshipped besides I the Creator of good and evil. Fortunate are those through whose hands I have made good to run and unfortunate are those through whose hands I have made evil to run and unfortunate are those who say, “How is this and how is that?”’ “Yunus has said, ‘It means they are those who deny this fact instead of having proper understanding of it.’”
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ishaq ibn Muhammad and others, in a marfu‘ manner, who have said the following. “Once in Kufa, after Amir al-Mu’minin Ali’s, recipient of divine supreme covenant, return from Siffin, a man came to him and sat with his legs folded underneath in front of the Imam and said, ‘O Amir al-Mu’minin, tell us about our journey against the people of Sham (Syria). Was it because of Allah’s decree and determination or not?’ ‘Amir al-Mu’minin Ali said, “Yes, O Shaykh, every hill that you climbed and every valley that you crossed was because of the decree and the determination of Allah.”’ The Shaykh then said, ‘Will my tiring efforts be counted in the sight of Allah, O Amir al-Mu’minin?’ “The Imam said, ‘Be patient, O Shaykh. I swear by Allah that He will grant you a great reward for your journey wherever you traveled, for your stay wherever you rested and for your return when you were headed back. In none of these conditions that you went through were you coerced or compelled.’ The Shaykh then said, ‘How can we not be considered compelled or coerced when all of our journey, rest and return were because of the decree and determination of Allah?’ “The Imam said, ‘Do you think it was all due to unavoidable decree and binding determination? Had it been so all the reward, punishment, commandments, orders and warnings from Allah would remain invalid and meaningless. The promise and warnings would fall apart. No one could blame the sinners and no one would praise the people of good deeds. The sinners could have been more deserving than the people of good deeds could, and the latter ones could have deserved more punishment. Such can only be the belief of the idol worshippers, the enemies of the Beneficent, of the party of Satan, the determinist of this Ummah (nation) and her Zoroastrians. ‘Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has obligated people on the basis of their freedom and choice. His prohibitions serve as warnings. He rewards a great deal for very little of deeds. Disobedience to Him is not due to His weakness or His defeat. Obedience to Him is not due to compulsion and coercion. He has not given the power to people in the absolute sense. He has not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them without a purpose. He has not sent the messengers and the prophets to warn and promise people just to play a trick. Such could only be the belief of the unbelievers. Woe is for the unbelievers to suffer in the fire.’ “The Shaykh then recited the following lines that he composed instantaneously: ‘You are the Imam whose obedience, one day, we hope, Salvation it will bring and forgiveness from the Beneficent (God). Explain you did our issue that was vague. May your Lord reward (your) favor with (His) favor.’”
Husayn ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from abu Basir from (Imam) abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who said the following: “Whoever thinks that Allah orders people to commit sins has ascribed lies to Allah and whoever thinks that good and evil are from Allah has ascribed lies to Allah.” (See also Hadith No. 6 below).
Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al- Husayn ibn Ali al-Washsha’ the following from abu al-Hassan al-Rida, recipient of divine supreme covenant,: “Once I asked the Imam, recipient of divine supreme covenant, ‘Has Allah left all the matters to people?’ The Imam said, ‘Allah, Most Exalted, is by far above and beyond such things.’ I then asked, ‘Has He compelled them to commit sins?’ The Imam said, ‘Allah’s justice and His judgment are far above and beyond such things.’ The Imam further said, ‘Allah has said, “O sons of Adam, I have more credit in your good deeds than you yourself do and you have more responsibility for your bad deeds than I do. You commit sins with the power that I have given to you.’”
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Isma‘il ibn Marrar from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman who has said that abu al-Hassan al-Rida, recipient of divine supreme covenant, said to me the following: “O Yunus do not say what pre-determinists say. The pre- determinists do not say what people of paradise say or what people of hell say or what Satan says. The people of paradise say, ‘. . . all praise is due to Allah for His guiding us. We could never have been guided without Allah’s guiding us.’ (7:43) The people of hell say, ‘Lord, our misfortune overwhelmed us and we became lost,’ (23:107) and Satan said, ‘My Lord for your making me to rebel . . .’ (15:39) “I then said, ‘I swear by Allah that I do not say what they say but I only say that there will be nothing unless Allah will want, will, measure and decree.’ The Imam, recipient of divine supreme covenant, said, ‘O Yunus, it is not that, ‘there will be nothing unless Allah will want, will, measure and decree.’ O Yunus, do you know what is want?’ I said, ‘No, I do not know.’ The Imam said, ‘It is the first mention of something. Do you know what is will?’ I said, ‘No, I do not know.’ The Imam said, ‘It is the intention to do something. Do you know what measurement is?’ I said, ‘No, I do not know.’ The Imam said, ‘It is the figure, the position, the limits of survival and extinction.’ “The Imam further said, ‘The decree is the readiness and the production of substance.’ I then asked permission to kiss his head and said, ‘You just opened for me something of which I was unaware.’”
Muhammad ibn Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar al-Yamani from abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who said the following: “Allah created the creatures and He knew what they will do. He commanded and prohibited them. He has not commanded them to do anything but that He has placed there a way for them not to obey the command (if they so wanted). They do not obey or disobey except by Allah’s permission.”
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ قُرْطٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الله يَأْمُرُ بِالسُّوءِ وَالْفَحْشَاءِ فَقَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَى الله وَمَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الْخَيْرَ وَالشَّرَّ بِغَيْرِ مَشِيئَةِ الله فَقَدْ أَخْرَجَ الله مِنْ سُلْطَانِهِ وَمَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الْمَعَاصِيَ بِغَيْرِ قُوَّةِ الله فَقَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَى الله وَمَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَى الله أَدْخَلَهُ الله النَّارَ.
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al- Rahman from Hafs ibn Qirt from abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who said the following: “The messenger of Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, has said, ‘Whoever believes that Allah has commanded to do evil and sin has ascribed lies to Allah. Whoever thinks that good and evil are without the wish of Allah, has considered Allah without authority. Whoever thinks that sins are without the power from Allah, has ascribed lies to Allah and whoever ascribes lies to Allah, He will make him to enter the fire.’”
A number of persons of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Isma‘il ibn Jabir who has said the following: “In the mosque of Madina there was a person who spoke of the issue of predetermination and people had gathered around him. I said to him, ‘O you, can I ask you a question?’ He said, ‘Yes, you may do so.’ I then said, ‘Can there be a thing in the kingdom of Allah the Majestic, the Glorious, that He may not want?’ He remained thinking for a while and then said to me, ‘O you, if I said that there can be something in His kingdom He does not want it means that He is defeated. If I say that there is nothing in His kingdom that He may not want I am giving you permission to commit sin. “I then told the story of that determinist to abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who said, ‘He (the determinist man) looked for his own interest. Had he said something else he would have been destroyed.’”
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hassan Za‘lan from abu Talib al-Qummi from a man the following from abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following: “I asked the Imam, recipient of divine supreme covenant, ‘Has Allah compelled the servants to sin?’ The Imam replied, ‘No, He has not compelled them.’ I then said, ‘Has He left all matters to them?’ He replied, ‘No, He has not done so.’ I asked, ‘Then how is it?’ The Imam then said, ‘It is a way of kindness from your Lord in between.’”
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al- Rahman from more than one person from abu Ja’far, recipient of divine supreme covenant, and abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who have said the following: “Allah is more kind to His creatures than to compel them to sin and then punish them. Allah, the Most Majestic is by far beyond willing something that cannot come into existence.” The two Imam, recipient of divine supreme covenant, were asked if there was a third reality between compulsion and predetermination. They replied, ‘Yes, there is something bigger than what is between the heavens and the earth.’”
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from Salih ibn Sahl from certain persons of his people from abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following when asked about compulsion and predetermination: “There is no compulsion and no predetermination. It is something between the two. In this there is the truth that is known only to a scholar or one whom the scholar has taught.”
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad from Yunus from ‘Idda who said the following: “Once a man said to abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, has Allah compelled people to sin?’ The Imam said, ‘Allah is just and by far beyond compelling people to sin and then punishing them for it.’ The man then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, has He then left all matters to the servants?’ The Imam said, ‘Had He left all matters to the people He would not have restricted them with commandments and prohibitions.’ The man then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, is there a stage between the two?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, there is something bigger than what is between the heavens and the earth.’”
Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah and others have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr who said the following: “Once I asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida, recipient of divine supreme covenant, ‘Certain persons of our people believe in compulsion and others believe in people’s capabilities. The Imam said, ‘Write down, “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, (Imam) Ali ibn al-Husayn, recipient of divine supreme covenant, has said that Allah, the Most Majestic has said, ‘O son of Adam, through My will it is you who wish. With My power you fulfill your obligations to Me. With My bounties you become strong to sin. I made you to hear and see. Whatever good you receive is from Allah. Whatever evil befalls you is from your own soul. It is because I have more credit in your good deeds than you do and you are more responsible for your bad deeds than I am. It is because I am not questioned about what I do and they are the ones who are questioned about their deeds. I have organized for you all things that you want.’”
Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Husayn ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya from those he has narrated from, from abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who said the following: “There is no compulsion and no total freedom but it is a matter between the two.” The narrator has said, ‘I asked what is, “it is a matter between the two?” The Imam, recipient of divine supreme covenant, said, ‘One example of this is the case of a man whom you may see that sins and you try to stop him but he does not listen. You then leave him alone and he sins. That is because he did not listen to you and you left him alone; if you were considered as ordering him to sin, it is not true.’”
A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Hisham ibn Salim from abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who said the following: “Allah is by far Gracious and beyond ordering people to do what they are not capable of doing. Allah is by far Majestic and beyond a situation wherein things may exist in His kingdom that He does not want.”
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasani from Ali ibn Asbat who said the following: “Once I asked Imam abu al-Hassan al-Rida, recipient of divine supreme covenant, about capability. The Imam said, ‘A servant (of Allah) has the capability if four things exist. That he is free and on his own, that he is physically well and of sound limbs and that for him there is reason and means from Allah.’ I asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in the service for your cause, please explain it to me.’ The Imam said, ‘Being free and on one’s own, physically well and of sound limbs means that one is willing to commit adultery but does not find a female party and then he finds her. He may now protect his soul and stay away from sin just as Joseph (peace be upon him) did or allow his desire to act and commit adultery and in this case he is called an adulterer. He has not obeyed Allah in coercion and disobeyed Him with defeat.’”
Muhammad ibn Yahya and Ali ibn Ibrahim both have narrated from Ahmad Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam and ‘Abd Allah ibn Yazid both from a man from Basra who said the following: “He asked (Imam) abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, about capability. The Imam said, ‘Can you do something before its existence?’ He Said, ‘No, I cannot do so.’ The Imam said, ‘Can you stop doing what has already been done?’ He said, ‘No, I cannot do so.’ The Imam then asked, ‘When then can you have the capability?’ He said, ‘I do not know.’ “The Imam said, ‘Allah created people and placed in them the means of capability and then He did not leave all matters in their hands. Thus, they are capable of acting at the time of the act with the act when they do that act. If they did not act the ‘Act’ in His property they do not have the capability to act the ‘Act’ that they did not act. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, is by far Majestic and above being opposed by someone in His property.’ “The man from Basra then said, ‘Are people, then, compelled?’ The Imam said, ‘Had they been compelled they would have been excused.’ The man said, ‘Are then all matters up to them?’ The Imam said, ‘No, all things are not left to them.’ The man said, ‘Then how is it’? “The Imam said, ‘Allah knew that they would act, thus He placed in them the means of capability. If they act at the time of action they are capable.’ The man from Basra then said, ‘I testify that this is the truth and that you are of the family of the Messenger (of Allah).’”
Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Salih al-Nily who said the following: “Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, ‘Do the servants (of Allah) have any capability?’ The Imam said, ‘When they act an act they do have the capability that Allah has placed in them.’ I asked, ‘What is it?’ The Imam said, ‘It is a means. In a sin like adultery when one commits such sins he has the capability when he is in such an act. If he however, desists from such an act he has the capability to refrain.’ The Imam further said, ‘Before the act he does not have the capability in a small or large measure but at the time of the act or desisting, he has the capability.’ “I asked, ‘What for then are they punished?’ The Imam said, ‘It is because of complete justification and because of the means that are placed in them. Allah does not compel anyone into sins. Also He does not will, in a definite form of will, disbelief for anyone, but when one disbelieves it is in the will of Allah for him to disbelieve and it is in the will and knowledge of Allah that he will not turn into anything good.’ “I asked, ‘Has He willed disbelief for them?’ The Imam said, ‘It is not quite like that but I say that Allah knew that they would disbelieve, thus He has willed it for them because of His knowledge of it. It is not a definite will. It is a will of choice.’”
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from certain persons of our people from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurara from Hamza ibn Humran who said the following: “Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, about capability but he did not reply. In another meeting I said, ‘May Allah keep you well, something happens to my heart that will not go away until I will get an answer from you.’ The Imam said, ‘What is in your heart will not harm you.’ I said, ‘May Allah keep you well. I say that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, does not hold people responsible for what they are not capable of doing or do not have the power to act. They do not do anything except with the will of Allah, His wish, decree and determination.’ The Imam said, ‘This is the religion of Allah that my forefathers and I follow,’ or that the Imam made a similar expression.”
Muhammad ibn Yahya and others have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Jamayl ibn Durraj from ibn al-Tayyar from abu ‘Abd Allah who said the following: “Allah has justified His holding people accountable with what He has made known and sent to them.” solid Muhammad ibn Isma’Il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Jamyl ibn Durraj a similar Hadith.
Sunni collections: text from the open hadith-api dataset. Al-Kafi: Arabic text, Muhammad Sarwar's translation and gradings from Thaqalayn.net via the Thaqalayn API. Hadith numbering follows those editions and can differ from a printed copy — check the Arabic against a trusted edition before relying on a reference.
