the Jahmiyyah and the Mu‘tazilah is unknown to most of them. This establishes that knowledge and acknowledgment exist without this reasoning.

Ibn Jurayj narrated from Zayd ibn Aslam concerning “except to worship Me”: “He fashioned them for misery and felicity.”

Likewise, Wahb ibn Munabbih said concerning “except to worship Me”: “He fashioned them for obedience and fashioned them for disobedience.” Ibn Abī Hātim cited both reports?

According to this interpretation, worship would mean their being subject to His decree and predestination, and His will taking effect in them.

This interpretation has also been given to what al-Wālibī narrated from Ibn ‘Abbās, who said: “Except that they should acknowledge their servitude to Me, willingly or unwillingly.”

Al-Tha‘labī said:

“If it is asked, ‘How, then, did they disbelieve, when He created them to acknowledge His lordship and submit to His command and will?’

“The answer is: ‘They have indeed submitted to the decree He ordained for them, for His decree takes effect upon them, and they cannot resist it when it befalls them. Those who disbelieve in Him have opposed Him only by failing to act upon His commands. As for submitting to His decree, no one can refuse it.’”

I say: Although this meaning is correct in itself—and the Qadariyyah have disputed some aspects of it—it is not what the verse means. For all created things, even animals and inanimate objects, are in this same position.