1262 — Ubayd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad informed us; he said: Abu Umar al-Zahid informed us; he said: al-Attafi narrated to us, from the Shiah, who said:

A man from Basra came and asked about Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali. He was told, “He is that young boy.” He said: “So I came to him, and it seemed as though he had not yet reached maturity. I said, ‘My master, I have come to you as a representative of the people of Basra, because the doctrine of divine decree has arisen in Basra and most people have apostatized. I wish to ask you about it.’

“He said, ‘Ask.’ I said, ‘I would prefer privacy.’ So he rose and walked until we were alone. Then he said to me, ‘Ask.’

“I said, ‘What of good?’ He said to me, ‘Write: He knew, decreed, determined, willed, intended, loved, and was pleased.’ I said, ‘Tell me more.’ He said to me, ‘This is how it has come down to us.’

“I said, ‘What of evil?’ ⦗759⦘ He said, ‘Write: He knew, decreed, determined, willed, and intended, but He was not pleased with it and did not love it.’ I said, ‘Tell me more.’ He said, ‘This is how it has come down to us.’

“The man said: ‘I returned to Basra, and a pulpit was set up for me in the congregational mosque. The people gathered, and I read to them what I had written, whereupon most of the people recanted.’