417 — Al-Firyābī informed us, saying: Ibrāhīm ibn al-Hajjāj al-Sāmī narrated to us, saying: ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn al-Mukhtār narrated to us, saying: Khālid al-Hadhdhāʾ narrated to us, from ʿAbd al-Aʿlā ibn ʿAbd Allah, from ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Hārith ibn Nawfal, who said:

ʿUmar, may Allah be pleased with him, delivered a sermon to us at al-Jābiya while the Catholicos stood before him and an interpreter translated. ʿUmar said, “Whomever Allah guides, none can lead astray; and whomever He leads astray, none can guide.” The Catholicos said, “Allah does not ⦗840⦘ lead anyone astray.”

ʿUmar asked, “What is he saying?”

The interpreter replied, “Nothing.”

ʿUmar then resumed his sermon. When he again reached the words, “Whomever Allah guides, none can lead astray; and whomever He leads astray, none can guide,” the Catholicos said, “Allah does not lead anyone astray.”

ʿUmar asked, “What is he saying?” The interpreter then told him, whereupon ʿUmar said, “You lie, O enemy of Allah! Were it not for the covenant protecting you, I would strike off your head. Rather, Allah created you, Allah led you astray, then Allah will cause you to die, and then He will admit you into the Fire—if Allah wills.”

He then said, “When Allah Most High created Adam, He scattered his descendants. He then recorded the people of Paradise and the deeds they would perform, and the people of the Fire and the deeds they would perform. Then He said, ‘These are for Paradise, and these are for the Fire.’” ⦗841⦘

The people had previously been discussing the divine decree. They then dispersed, and no one mentioned it anymore.