Al-Tāʾiyyah fī al-Qadar - Ibn Taimiya - (101)

The text of the question that was put to Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him:

1- O scholars of the faith, a dhimmī under your religion is bewildered; guide him with the clearest proof.
2- If, as you claim, my Lord has decreed my disbelief and yet is not pleased with it from me, what stratagem remains to me?
3- He summoned me, then barred the door against me—so is there any way for me to enter? Clarify my case for me.
4- He decreed my misguidance and then said, “Be content with the decree,” but I am not content (1) with that which brings about my misery.
5- And if, O people, I were content with what has been decreed, my Lord is not pleased with the evil of my calamity (2).
6- So how (3) can I be pleased with something my Master does not approve of? I am perplexed—direct me to remove my confusion.
7- If my Lord has willed disbelief from me as His will, am I sinful (4) in following that will (5)?
8- And do I have any choice to oppose His judgment? For Allah’s sake, quench the thirst of my doubt with proofs (6) (7).

(1) In manuscript T, the reading is: fa-ma ana ardha (“so I am not content”). (2) In the ‘Uqud edition, the reading is: shakkiyyati (“my doubt”). (3) In manuscripts T, B, and J: fa-hal (“so is it …?”). (4) In manuscripts T and H: bi-ittibaʿ (“by following”). (5) In manuscripts B and J: mashiʾati (“my will”). (6) In manuscript T: ʿillati (“my ailment”). (7) In manuscript A, the eighth verse is placed before the seventh.

نص السؤال الذي أُورد على شيخ الإسلام ابن تيمية ﵀: ١- أيا علماءَ الدين ذمِّيُّ دينكم ... تحيرَّ دُلُّوه بأوضحِ حجةِ ٢- إذا ما قضى ربيْ بكفريْ بزعمكم ... ولم يَرضَهُ مني فما وَجْهُ حيلتي ٣- دعاني وسدَّ البابَ عنيْ فهل إلى ... دخوليْ سبيلٌ بيِّنوا لي قضيتي ٤- قضى بضلاليْ ثم قال: ارضَ بالقضا ... فما أنا راضٍ (١) بالذي فيه شقوتي ٥- فإن كنت بالمقضيِّ -ياقومُ- راضيًا ... فَرَبِّيَ لا يرضى بشؤمِ بليَّتي (٢) ٦- وهل (٣) ليْ رضا ما ليس يرضاه سيدي ... فقد حِرْتُ دُلوني على كشف حيرتي ٧- إذا شاء ربِّيْ الكفرَ مني مشيئةً ... فهل أنا عاصٍ في (٤) اتباع المشيئةِ (٥) ٨- وهل ليْ اختيارٌ أن أخالفَ حُكْمَهُ ... فبالله فاشفوا بالبراهين غُلتي (٦) (٧)

(١) في ط: فما أنا أرضى. (٢) في عقود: شكيَّتي. (٣) في ط وب وج: فهل. (٤) في ط وهـ: باتباع. (٥) في ب وج: مشيئتي. (٦) في ط: علتي. (٧) في أ: تقديم البيت الثامن على السابع.