an unbeliever; had he grown up, he would have overwhelmed his parents with transgression and unbelief.”

The word “inscribed” means inscribed in the Book—that is, decreed and ordained—not that his unbelief existed before he was born. Rather, he is born upon a sound natural disposition, while it is decreed that he will later change and become an unbeliever, as inscribed in his record on the day it was inscribed.

Whoever thinks that this refers to the sealing of his heart, as mentioned concerning the hearts of unbelievers, is mistaken. For in that case one would not say, “He was sealed on the day he was sealed,” since his heart is sealed only after he disbelieves.

It is established in Sahīh Muslim and elsewhere, on the authority of ʿIyād ibn Himār, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, related that his Lord Most High said:

“I created My servants as pure monotheists, but the devils led them astray, forbade them what I had made lawful for them, and commanded them to associate with Me that for which I had sent down no authority.”

This explicitly states that He created them upon pure monotheism and that the devils subsequently led them astray.

Likewise, in the hadith of al-Aswad ibn Sarīʿ, narrated by Ahmad and others, he said:

“The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sent out a military detachment, whose killing extended to children. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, asked them, ‘What prompted you to kill the children?’ They replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, are they not the children of polytheists?’ He said, ‘Are not the best of you your children