1330 — Abd al-Aziz ibn Ali al-Azaji informed us. He said: Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Jarjara'i narrated to us by authorization. He said: Ahmad ibn Khalid al-Nahwi, the scribe, narrated to us. He said: Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Mihran narrated to us. He said: Al-Walid ibn Hisham narrated to us, from his father, who said:

It reached Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik that a man had emerged advocating the doctrine of predestination-denial and had led many people astray. Hisham sent for him and had him brought before him. He asked, “What is this that has reached me concerning you?”

The man replied, “And what is it?”

He said, “You claim that Allah has not decreed the creation of evil.”

He replied, “That is indeed what I say. Bring forward whomever you wish to debate me on the matter. If I overcome him through proof and clear argument, then you will know that I am upon the truth; but if he overcomes me with proof, then strike off my head.”

Hisham then summoned al-Awza'i and brought him to debate the man. Al-Awza'i said to him, “If you wish, I may ask you one question; if you wish, three; and if you wish, four.”

He replied, “Ask whatever you see fit.”

Al-Awza'i said, “Tell me concerning Allah, exalted is He: do you know that He decreed for me what He prohibited?”

He replied, “I have no answer to this.”

I said, “Commander of the Believers, that is one.” Then I said to him, “Tell me: do you know that Allah prevented one from doing what He commanded?”

He replied, “This is more difficult than the first.” ⦗795⦘

I said, “Commander of the Believers, that is two.” Then I said to him, “Do you know that Allah has aided in doing what He prohibited?”

He replied, “This is more difficult than the first and the second.”

I said, “Commander of the Believers, that is three; by these, his execution has become warranted.” Hisham then ordered that he be executed, and his head was struck off.

Then he said to al-Awza'i, “Abu Amr, explain these questions to us.”

He replied, “Yes, Commander of the Believers. I asked him whether he knew that Allah decreed for me what He prohibited: He forbade Adam from eating from the tree, then decreed that he would eat from it. I asked him whether he knew that Allah prevented one from doing what He commanded: He commanded Iblis to prostrate to Adam, then prevented him from prostrating. And I asked him whether he knew that Allah aided in doing what He prohibited: He prohibited carrion and blood, then aided us in eating them in a time of necessity.”

Hisham said, “And what was the fourth, Abu Amr?”

He replied, “I would have said: ‘Is your will alongside Allah, or apart from Allah?’ If he said, ‘Alongside Allah,’ he would have ascribed a partner to Allah; and if he said, ‘Apart from Allah,’ he would have claimed exclusive lordship. Whichever of the two answers he gave me, his execution would thereby have become warranted.”

Hisham said, “The life of creation and the preservation of the religion rest upon the scholars.”