Likewise, the Qadariyyah (deniers of divine decree) among the Mu‘tazilah, the Shī‘ah, and others addressed the theologians who affirm the divine attributes on the question of divine decree, saying:

“The approach to the texts affirming divine decree and that Allah is the Creator of His servants’ actions is the same as the approach to the texts concerning the attributes.”

This was the answer given to these theologians by some among the Mu‘tazilah and the Shī‘ah. They responded to the scriptural arguments adduced by these theologians to establish that Allah is the Creator of His servants’ actions, both in general terms and in detail.

Their general response took several forms. The first was that, once it is established that Allah Most High is just, does nothing evil, and neglects nothing required by His wisdom, the verses upon which their opponents rely must admit interpretations that do not contradict what the evidence has established, even if those interpretations are not known in detail.

They said:

“This is just what both we and they say concerning the verses upon which those who liken Allah to created beings rely to claim that Allah Most High is a body, such as His saying:

‘Rather, both His hands are outstretched’ [al-Mā’idah: 64],

“and other such verses whose apparent meanings suggest a likeness to created beings: once it is established that Allah Most High does not resemble other things, these verses must admit interpretations consistent with rational proofs, even if we do not know those interpretations in detail.”

Thus, the approach adopted by these Qadariyyah is the same approach adopted by those among the Jahmiyyah who agree with them in denying all or some of the attributes, such as Jahm ibn