—among the speculative theologians of the Qadariyyah.

These thinkers then fall into two camps:

1. Some hold that people deserve the torment of the Hereafter merely because they have acted against pure reason. This is the stance of the Muʿtazilah, many Hanafis, and Abū al-Khaṭṭāb. Such a claim, however, contradicts both the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

2. Others maintain that they will not be punished until a messenger has first been sent to them, as the Qur’an and the Sunnah clearly indicate. Even so, their deeds are reprehensible and detested; Allah censures and hates them, and they are described as being in a state of disbelief that Allah censures and hates—though He will not punish them until He sends a messenger—just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the authentic narration cited earlier:

“Allah looked at the inhabitants of the earth and loathed them—all of them, Arab and non-Arab alike—save a few remnants of the People of the Book. My Lord said to me: ‘Stand among Quraysh and warn them.’ I replied: ‘They will smash my head until they leave it like a piece of flattened bread.’ He said: ‘I will put you to the test and test others through you, and I will send down upon you a Book that water will not wash away; you will recite it while awake and while asleep. Dispatch an army and I will dispatch twice their number; fight with those who obey you against those who oppose you; spend, and I will spend on you.’”

He (peace and blessings be upon him) also said:

“Indeed, I created My servants ḥunafāʾ (upright upon pure monotheism), but the devils came and led them astray, made unlawful for them what I had made lawful, and ordered them to associate with Me that for which I had sent down no authority …”