2068 — Al-Firyābī then informed us: ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbār al-Himsī narrated to us: Muhammad ibn Himyar narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn Muhājir, from his brother ‘Amr ibn Muhājir, who said:

News reached ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz—may Allah have mercy on him—that Ghaylān was making statements concerning divine decree. He therefore summoned him, denied him an audience for several days, and then admitted him into his presence. He asked, “Ghaylān, what is this that I have heard about you?”

‘Amr ibn Muhājir said: I motioned to him not to say anything, but he replied, “Yes, Commander of the Faithful. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: ‘Was there not a period of time when man was not yet a thing worth mentioning? Indeed, We created man from a drop of mixed fluids to test him, and so We made him hearing and seeing. Indeed, We guided him to the path, whether grateful or ungrateful.’” [al-Insān: 2]

‘Umar said, “Recite the end of the surah: ‘But you do not will unless Allah wills. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. He admits whomever He wills into His mercy, and He has prepared a painful punishment for the wrongdoers.’” He then asked, “What do you say, Ghaylān?”

He replied, “I say that I was blind and you gave me sight; I was deaf and you made me hear; and I was astray and you guided me.” ⦗2559⦘

‘Umar then said, “O Allah, if Ghaylān is truthful before You, then so be it; otherwise, cause him to be crucified.”

Ghaylān thereafter refrained from speaking about divine decree, and ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz—may Allah have mercy on him—placed him in charge of the mint in Damascus. When ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz died and the caliphate passed to Hishām, Ghaylān once again began speaking about divine decree. Hishām summoned him and had his hand cut off. A man passed by him while flies were swarming over his hand and said, “Ghaylān, this is divine decree and predestination.” He replied, “By Allah, you lie! This is neither divine decree nor predestination.” Hishām then summoned him and had him crucified.