312 — Al-Firyābī also informed us, saying: Abū Bakr ibn Abī Shayba narrated to us, saying: Abd Allah ibn Idrīs narrated to us, from Umar ibn Dharr, who said: Umar ibn Abd al-Azīz said: “Had ⦗715⦘ Allah Most High willed that He not be disobeyed, He would not have created Iblīs, the chief source of sin. Indeed, the Book of Allah contains knowledge concerning this—knowledge of which some are ignorant and which others know.” He then recited: “Indeed, you and what you worship cannot tempt anyone away from Him except one who is destined to enter the Blazing Fire.” [al-Sāffāt: 162]

Muhammad ibn al-Husayn said: Allah Most High also says: “We appointed for them companions who made what lay before them and behind them seem attractive to them. Thus the decree came into effect against them, along with communities of jinn and humans that had passed away before them. Indeed, they were losers.” [Fussilat: 25]

Allah Most High also says in Surah al-Zukhruf: “Whoever turns away from the remembrance of the Most Merciful, We appoint for him ⦗716⦘ a devil who becomes his constant companion. They certainly turn them away from the path while they think that they are rightly guided.” [al-Zukhruf: 36]

Muhammad ibn al-Husayn said: O Muslims, Allah Most High has informed you that He sets the devils upon those whom He has not decreed to be believers. He leads them astray through those devils, who make their evil ways seem attractive to them. Allah Most High has also informed us that it was He who put the people of Moses to the test until they worshipped the calf, by means of what al-Sāmirī had taken in his grasp for them. He led them astray through the calf that al-Sāmirī had made for them. Have you not heard ⦗717⦘ what He said to Moses, peace be upon him: “We have indeed put your people to the test after your departure, and al-Sāmirī has led them astray.” [Tā Hā: 85]

Allah Most High also says in Surah al-Anbiyāʾ: “We test you with evil and good as a trial, and to Us you will be returned.” [al-Anbiyāʾ: 35]

Allah Most High also says in Surah Hā Mīm, The Believer: “Thus the evil of Pharaoh’s deeds was made attractive to him, and he was turned away from the path.” [Ghāfir: 37]