that they have any agency.

Some people have claimed that Adam only prevailed over Moses because he was his father, or because he had already repented, or because the sin belonged to one dispensation while the censure belonged to another, or because the matter concerns this world but not the next. All of this is groundless.

[The duty to be patient in times of trial]

The correct understanding of the ḥadīth is that Moses, peace be upon him, blamed his father solely because of the calamity that befell them when he ate from the tree. Thus he said to him, “Why did you expel us and yourself from the Garden?” He did not reproach him merely for having sinned and then repented, for Moses knew that one who repents of a sin is not to be censured, and Adam had indeed repented. Had Adam believed that predestination removed all blame, he would not have said,

“Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves; and if You do not forgive us and show us mercy, we shall surely be among the losers” (Qur’an 7:23).

When calamity strikes, the believer is commanded to be patient and to submit; when he sins, he must seek forgiveness and repent. Allah the Exalted says,

“So be patient; indeed, the promise of Allah is true, and seek forgiveness for your sin” (Qur’an 40:55),

enjoining patience in misfortunes and seeking forgiveness for faults. He also says,

“No calamity befalls except by the permission of Allah, and whoever believes in Allah—He guides his heart” (Qur’an 64:11).

Ibn Masʿūd said, “It refers to a man whom a misfortune strikes; he knows that it is from Allah, so he is content and surrenders.”