1024—Muhammad ibn Ja‘far informed us; Ubayd Allah ibn Thabit narrated to us; Ahmad ibn Mansur narrated to us; Abu Salih narrated to us; Mu‘awiyah narrated to us, from ‘Ali ibn Abi Talhah ⦗638⦘, from Ibn ‘Abbas, concerning His words: “It is all the same to them whether you warn them or do not warn them: they will not believe.” [al-Baqarah 2:6]; “Had Allah willed, He could have brought them all together upon guidance.” [al-An‘am 6:35]; “Whomever He wills to lead astray, He makes his breast tight and constricted.” [al-An‘am 6:125]; “They would not believe unless Allah willed.” [al-An‘am 6:111]; “No soul can believe except by Allah’s permission.” [Yunus 10:100]; “Had We willed, We could have given every soul its guidance.” [al-Sajdah 32:13]; “Had your Lord willed, all those on earth would have believed—all of them together.” [Yunus 10:99]; “We have placed shackles around their necks.” [Ya-Sin 36:8]; “Whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance.” [al-Kahf 18:28]; “Among them are the wretched and the blessed.” [Hud 11:105]; and similar passages in the Quran:

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was eager for all people to believe and follow him upon guidance. So Allah informed him that none would believe except one for whom Allah had already decreed felicity in the primordial Record, and none would go astray except one for whom Allah had already decreed wretchedness in the primordial Record ⦗639⦘.

Then He said to His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: “Perhaps you would destroy yourself with grief because they do not become believers.” [al-Shu‘ara’ 26:3] That is: “If We willed, We could send down upon them a sign from heaven, and their necks would remain bent before it in submission.” [al-Shu‘ara’ 26:4]

Then He said: “Whatever mercy Allah opens up for people, none can withhold; and whatever He withholds, none can release thereafter.” [Fatir 35:2] And He says: “You have no part in the matter.” [Al ‘Imran 3:128]