Such was also the case with Jahm ibn Safwān and his followers when he debated the people of India, just as it was with the Mutazilah when they debated the Persian Magians. The Magians, however, are closer to the truth than the polytheists. Whoever denies divine commands and prohibitions, or does not acknowledge them, is an outright polytheist and disbeliever, greater in disbelief than the Jews, Christians and Magians. This is found among many antinomian speculative theologians and Sufis, and others like them. Such people did not emerge during the era of the Companions and their Successors because they lived so close to the time of prophethood. Rather, those who emerged were the Magian Qadariyyah, whose doctrine holds commands and prohibitions, reward and punishment in high regard. They are therefore closer to the Quran, the Sunnah, the Messenger and the religion than those who nullify commands and prohibitions, for the latter are among the worst of creation.

As for the Qadariyyah who resemble Iblīs, they acknowledge that commands and prohibitions come from Allah, and also acknowledge that divine ordainment and decree come from Him. Yet they say:

“This involves ignorance and injustice. Its contradictory nature makes it ignorance and folly, while punishing the servant for what He has created within him makes it injustice.”

Such was the case with Iblīs, who said:

“Because You have led me astray, I will surely make evil seem attractive to them on earth