He decrees and ordains, creates His servant and moulds his nature as He pleases.’ Al-Awzā‘ī said, ‘I know of no basis for compulsion in the Quran and Sunnah, so I am afraid to use that expression. But decree, predestination, creation, and the moulding of one’s nature—these are known from the Quran and the hadith of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. This was set down only out of concern that someone among those who adhere to the community and affirm the faith might fall into doubt.’”

It was related from Abū Bakr al-Marwadhī, who said:

“I asked Abū ‘Abd Allāh, ‘Do you say that Allah has compelled His servants?’ He replied, ‘Do not put it that way.’ He disapproved of this expression and said, ‘Allah leads astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills.’”

Al-Marwadhī said:

“A letter was written to ‘Abd al-Wahhāb concerning Husayn ibn Khalaf al-‘Ukbarī, mentioning that he had declined his father’s inheritance out of scruple. A man who adhered to the Qadariyya said, ‘Allah has not compelled His servants to commit sins.’ Ahmad ibn Rajā’ replied, ‘Allah has compelled His servants’—intending thereby to affirm divine decree. Ahmad ibn ‘Alī then wrote a treatise presenting arguments on the matter. I brought it to Abū ‘Abd Allāh and told him what had happened. He said, ‘And he writes a treatise!’ He disapproved of both of them: Ibn Rajā’ for saying, ‘He has compelled His servants,’ and the adherent of the Qadariyya who said, ‘He has not compelled them.’ He also disapproved of Ahmad ibn ‘Alī’s writing the treatise and presenting his arguments, and ordered that he be shunned for writing it. He told me, ‘Ibn Rajā’ must seek his Lord’s forgiveness for saying, “He has compelled His servants.”’ I asked Abū ‘Abd Allāh, ‘Then what is the answer to this question?’ He replied, ‘Allah leads astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills.’”

Al-Khallāl said:

“Al-Marwadhī also informed us concerning this issue that he heard Abū ‘Abd Allāh, when he disapproved of the man who said, ‘He has not compelled,’ and of the one who replied to him, ‘He has compelled,’ say: ‘Whenever someone introduces