Muhammad ibn Bakkār, who said: Abū Ma‘shar narrated to us; Ya‘lā narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn Ka‘b, who said: ‘He is called al-Jabbār (the Compeller) only because He compels creation to do whatever He wills.’”

If one refrains from using an ambiguous expression that admits different meanings and may cause confusion, the danger is avoided. This is better than denying it—even if the unsound meaning is its apparent sense—lest one be thought to deny both meanings together.

The same applies to denying the capacity to perform what is commanded: affirming compulsion in committing what is forbidden is analogous to denying the capacity to perform what is commanded.

This was also the position of Imam Ahmad and other imams of the Sunnah.

Al-Khallāl said: Al-Maymūnī informed us, saying:

“I heard Abū ‘Abd Allāh—meaning Ahmad ibn Hanbal—debating Khālid ibn Khidāsh about divine decree. They mentioned a man, and Abū ‘Abd Allāh said: ‘What I object to here is his saying, “Allah compelled.”’”

He also said: Al-Marwadhī informed us:

“I said to Abū ‘Abd Allāh: ‘A man says that Allah compelled His servants.’

“He replied: ‘Do not speak like this.’ He rejected this wording and said: ‘He leads astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills.’”

He also said: Al-Marwadhī informed us, saying:

“A letter was written to ‘Abd al-Wahhāb concerning Hasan ibn Khalaf al-‘Ukbarī, stating that he had refrained, out of scrupulousness, from taking his father’s inheritance. A Qadarī man said: ‘Allah did not compel His servants to commit sins.’ Ahmad ibn Rajā’ replied to him: ‘Allah compelled His servants to do whatever He willed,’ intending thereby to affirm divine decree.

“Ahmad ibn ‘Alī then wrote a book arguing his case. I brought it to Abū ‘Abd Allāh and told him what had happened. He said: ‘And he writes a book!’ He censured them both: Ibn Rajā’ for saying, ‘He compelled His servants,’ and the Qadarī who said, ‘He did not compel them.’ He also censured Ahmad ibn ‘Alī for writing the book and presenting his arguments, and ordered that he be shunned for writing it. He said