422 — Abū Bakr ibn Abī Dāwūd also informed us, saying: Ayyūb, one of our shaykhs, informed us, saying: Ismāʿīl ibn ʿAmr al-Bajalī informed us, saying: ʿAbd al-Malik ibn ⦗845⦘ Hārūn ibn ʿAntara narrated to us, from his father, from his grandfather, who said:

A man came to ʿAlī ibn Abī Tālib, may Allah be pleased with him, and said, “Tell me about predestination.”

He replied, “It is a dark path, so do not tread it.”

The man said, “Tell me about predestination.”

He replied, “It is a deep sea, so do not enter it.”

The man said, “Tell me about predestination.”

He replied, “It is Allah’s secret, so do not seek to fathom it.”

The man then turned away, but before he had gone far, he returned and said to ʿAlī, “By the first will, I stand and sit, and clench and open my hand.”

ʿAlī, may Allah be pleased with him, said to him, “I shall ask you about three matters, and Allah will leave no way out for you or for anyone who speaks of the will. Tell me: Did Allah Most High create you as He willed, or as you willed?”

He replied, “No; rather, as He willed.”

He said, “Tell me: Will you come on the Day of Resurrection as He wills, or as you will?”

He replied, “No; rather, as He wills.”

He said, “Then tell me: Did He make you as He willed, or as you willed?”

He replied, “No; rather, as ⦗846⦘ He willed.”

He said, “Then you have no share in the will.”

Muhammad ibn al-Husayn said: Whoever opposes these men will thereby be turned away from the path of truth.