not to bring about the Hour, He would not bring it about. But they know what pleases Him, so they ask Him only for what He loves.”

This account is either falsely attributed to Sahl—which is what we would prefer to be the case—or reflects an error on his part. There is no might or power except through Allah.

For whatever Allah has declared will happen must happen. Even if all the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth asked Him that it not happen, He would not grant their request—as when asking Him not to bring about the Hour, or not to fill Hell with jinn and mankind together, and other such things. Indeed, whatever Allah knows will happen, He will not grant anyone’s supplication that it should not happen.

Supplication, however, is a means by which Allah brings about what He knows will occur through that means, just as He brings about through all other means what He knows will occur through them. People far superior to anyone in Basra have asked Allah Most High for less than this, yet their requests were not granted, because the contrary had already been decreed. Thus Abraham, peace and blessings be upon him, asked Him to forgive his father. Likewise, Noah, peace be upon him, asked Him to save his son, but was told:

“O Noah, he is not of your family; indeed, he is of unrighteous conduct. So do not ask Me about that of which you have no knowledge.”

And the best of creation, Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was told concerning his uncle Abū