Only those whom the Companions—including Ibn ‘Umar, Ibn ‘Abbās, and others—disavowed disputed Allah’s prior determination and its recording. Qatādah stated that Allah has not coerced anyone into disobedience. This is correct: Ahl al-Sunnah, who affirm divine decree, agree that Allah does not coerce anyone into disobedience as a ruler, judge, or another person coerces someone into acting against his will through punishment and threats. Rather, He, glorified be He, creates the servant’s will to act, his ability, and his action. He is the Creator of all things.
This statement of Qatādah might be thought to reflect the views of the Qadariyyah, and statements such as this might be thought to explain why he was accused of holding Qadarī beliefs. It was even said that Mālik disapproved of Ma‘mar narrating Quran commentary from him because he had been accused of such beliefs. Yet the statement itself is true, and no one among the early generations is known to have said, “Allah coerced anyone into disobedience.” Indeed, they went further and prohibited using the term jabr (compulsion), as did al-Awzā‘ī, al-Thawrī, al-Zubaydī, ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Mahdī, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and others. They forbade saying, “Allah compelled His servants,” and said that this was an innovation in religion and conveyed a false meaning.