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and drives him to madness, contrary to the view of the Muʿtazilah and the Jahmiyyah. As Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:
“Those who consume usury will not stand except as one driven to madness by Satan’s touch.” [al-Baqarah 275]
And as Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:
“From the evil of the retreating whisperer {4} who whispers into the hearts of mankind {5} from among jinn and mankind. {6}” [al-Nās 4–6]
We affirm that Allah Most High may favour the righteous with signs that He manifests through them. Our position concerning children—the children of the polytheists—is that Allah, glorified be He, will kindle a fire for them in the Hereafter, then say, “Plunge into it,” as related in the narration
ويخبطه خلافًا لقول المعتزلة والجهمية كما قال الله عز وجل الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لاَ يَقُومُونَ إِلاَّ كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ
[البقرة ٢٧٥]
وكما قال الله عز وجل مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ
{٤}
الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ
{٥}
مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ
{٦}
[الناس ٤-٦]
ونقول إن الصالحين يجوز أن يخصهم الله تعالى بآيات يظهرها عليهم وقولنا في الأطفال أطفال المشركين إن الله سبحانه يؤجج لهم نارًا في الآخرة ثم يقول اقتحموها كما جاءت الرواية