‘Yes.’ As for those destined for felicity, they said ‘Yes,’ recognizing Him and assenting willingly from their hearts. As for those destined for wretchedness, they said ‘Yes,’ unwillingly rather than willingly.

They said: This is confirmed by His words:

‘To Him submits whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly.’

They said: Likewise, His words:

‘As He originated you, so you will return: a group He guided, while another group deserved to go astray.’

Muhammad ibn Nasr al-Marwazī said: I heard Ishāq ibn Ibrāhīm—meaning Ibn Rāhawayh—adopt this interpretation. He cited as evidence the words of Abū Hurayrah: ‘Read, if you wish: “The innate disposition Allah instilled in mankind; there is no changing Allah’s creation.”’

Ishāq explained: ‘There is no changing the disposition upon which all the children of Adam were formed,’ meaning disbelief and faith, recognition and denial.

Ishāq also cited the words of Allah Most High:

‘And when your Lord took from the children of Adam—from their loins—their descendants.’

Ishāq said: ‘The scholars unanimously agreed that these were the souls before the bodies. He made them speak and testify concerning themselves: “Am I not your Lord?” They said: “Yes.” He then said: “Take care not to say, ‘We were unaware of this,’ or to say, ‘It was only our forefathers who associated others with Allah before us.’”’

He also mentioned ‘the hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka'b concerning the boy whom al-Khidr killed.