Others cited as evidence the words of Abraham, peace be upon him:

“My Lord, make me one who establishes prayer, and also some of my descendants.” [Ibrāhīm: 40]

And his words:

“Our Lord, make us both Muslims in submission to You, and from our descendants a Muslim community in submission to You.” [al-Baqarah: 128]

Al-Awzāʿī’s answer is sounder than al-Zubaydī’s, because al-Zubaydī denied compulsion, whereas al-Awzāʿī disallowed the use of the term. Since this expression may bear a valid meaning, denying it could entail denying both truth and falsehood.

Al-Khallāl likewise cited the report recorded by ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ahmad in his book al-Sunnah, saying: Muhammad ibn Bakkār narrated to us; Abū Maʿshar narrated to us; Yaʿlā narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn Kaʿb, who said:

“He is called al-Jabbār (the Compeller) because He compels creation to do whatever He wills.”

If one refrains from using an indeterminate expression that admits different meanings and is liable to confusion, the objectionable consequence is avoided. This is better than denying it—even if it appears to suggest the unsound meaning among its possible senses—lest one be thought to deny both meanings together.

The same applies to denying capacity in relation to what is commanded: affirming compulsion regarding what is prohibited is analogous to denying capacity regarding what is commanded. This was also the position of Imam Ahmad and other imams of the Sunnah.