Darʾ Taʿâroud al-ʿAql wa-n-Naql - Ibn Taimiya - (1/62)

Darʾ Taʿâroud al-ʿAql wa-n-NaqlIbn Taimiya

“So fear Allah as much as you are able.” [al-Taghābun: 16]

And His words:

“And those who believe and do righteous deeds—We do not burden any soul beyond its capacity—” [al-A‘rāf: 42]

And other such passages. Thus, these people who are negligent and overstep the bounds concerning the fundamentals of religion, if they cannot hear what was revealed to the Messenger, fall into this category.

[Their disagreement concerning what is commanded but which Allah knows will not occur]

Likewise, they disagree concerning an act that is commanded but which Allah knows will not occur, or which He has also declared will not occur. Some people say that such an act is beyond one’s capacity, just as the extreme Qadariyyah deny that Allah can know, declare, or record beforehand that it will not occur. This is because both groups agree that the contrary of what is known cannot be possible or within one’s capacity.

The majority, however, disagree with them on this point, saying: “Their position is undermined by Allah’s power, for He has declared His ability to do things that He nevertheless does not do,” as in His words:

“Yes indeed, We are able even to restore his fingertips.” [al-Qiyāmah: 4]

And His words:

“And We are certainly able to take it away.” [al-Mu’minūn: 18]

And His words:

“Say: He is able to send punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet.” [al-An‘ām: 65]

He also says:

“Had your Lord willed, He would have made humankind one community.” [Hūd: 18]

And there are similar passages in which He declares that, had He willed something, He would have done it. If He were to do it, He would do so only if He were able to do it. The Quran thus establishes that He is able to do it and would do it if He willed it, even though He does not will it.

They also say that Allah knows the act as it truly is: He knows it to be possible and within the servant’s capacity, yet not occurring or coming into existence because the servant does not will it, dislikes it, or for some similar reason—not because he is incapable of it.

{فاتقوا الله ما استطعتم} [سورة التغابن: ١٦] ، وقوله {والذين آمنوا وعملوا الصالحات لا نكلف نفسا إلا وسعها} [الأعراف: ٤٢] ، وأمثال ذلك، فهؤلاء المفرطون والمعتدون في أصول الدين إذا لم يستطيعوا سمع ما أنز إلي الرسول فهم من هذا القسم. [تنازعهم في المأمور به الذي علم الله أنه لا يكون] وكذلك أيضاً تنازعهم في المأمور به الذي علم الله أنه لا يكون، أو أخبر مع ذلك أنه لا يكون، فمن الناس من يقول: إن هذا غير مقدور عليه، كما أن غالية القدرية يمنعون أن يتقدم علم الله وخبره وكتابه بأنه لا يكون، وذلك لاتفاق الفريقين علي أن خلاف المعلوم لا يكون ممكناً ولا مقدوراً عليه. وقد خالفهم في ذلك جمهور الناس، وقالوا: هذا منقوص عليهم بقدرة الله تعالي، فإنه أخبر بقدرته علي أشياء، مع أنه لا يفعلها، كقوله {بلى قادرين على أن نسوي بنانه} [القيامة: ٤] ، وقوله {وإنا على ذهاب به لقادرون} [المؤمنون: ١٨] ، وقوله {قل هو القادر على أن يبعث عليكم عذابا من فوقكم أو من تحت أرجلكم} [الأنعام: ٦٥] ، وقد قال {ولو شاء ربك لجعل الناس أمة واحدة} [هود: ١٨] ، ونحو ذلك مما يخبر أنه لو شاء لفعله، وإذا فعله فإنما يفعله إذا كان قادراً عليه، فقد دل القرآن علي أنه قادر عليه يفعله إذا شاءه، مع أنه لا يشاؤه. وقالوا أيضاً: إن الله يعلمه علي ما هو عليه، فيعلمه ممكناً مقدوراً للعبد، غير واقع ولا كائن لعدم إرادة العبد له، أو لبغضه إياه، ونحو ذلك، لا لعجزه عنه.