Reports and established practice reflecting the consensus concerning the verses on divine decree:

This occurred when ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (may Allah be pleased with him) set out from Madinah for Syria, accompanied by the majority of the Emigrants and the Helpers, until he reached Damascus. A plague had broken out in Syria, and ʿUmar feared to proceed with the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He consulted the Companions who were with him from among the Emigrants and the Helpers, as well as the jurists who were in Syria. They differed in their views until ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf came and related to him from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “If you hear that it has broken out in a land, do not enter it; and if it breaks out in a land while you are there, do not leave it in flight.”

ʿUmar praised Allah and then turned back. At the gate of al-Jābiyah, he addressed them in order to explain to them and make known the reason for their return. In his sermon, he said—as Allah revealed in His Book, and as His Messenger commanded speakers to begin their sermons with it: “Whomever Allah leads astray, none can guide; and whomever He guides, none can lead astray.”

The Christian Catholicos said, “Allah does not lead anyone astray twice or three times.” The Companions rebuked him for this twice. Then ʿUmar said to the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), “What is he saying?” They replied, “O Commander of the Believers, he claims that Allah does not lead anyone astray.” ʿUmar said, “You have lied. Rather, Allah created you, and Allah led you astray; then He will cause you to die