contradicting the reports from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—which hadith scholars recognize as mass-transmitted, concerning sinners being brought out of the Fire and intercessors interceding for them. It also entails making people despair of Allah’s mercy, while denying the all-encompassing scope of Allah’s creation, will, and power: they claimed that some events lie beyond His power and are neither willed nor created by Him.

In this respect, they resembled the Magians, so much so that it was said:

“The Qadariyyah are the Magians of this community.”

Those at the opposite extreme withheld judgment concerning Allah’s statements altogether, even rejecting both kinds of general statement. Thus, they did not derive from His statements knowledge of the promises and threats He conveyed. They would not affirm with certainty the salvation of those whom Allah knows to have believed, done righteous deeds, and been among the most obedient to Him, if any one of them had committed a single minor sin. Nor would they affirm with certainty the punishment of those whom Allah knows to be the most wicked and evil members of the Muslim community. Rather, despite Allah’s knowledge of both groups, they considered it possible that He might punish people who had performed great good deeds for a minor sin with a punishment He inflicts on no one else in the Muslim community, and that He might admit the wicked members of the Muslim community into Paradise alongside the earliest forerunners in faith. A detailed discussion of both groups belongs elsewhere.