[Section: The Rāfidī’s claim that Ahl al-Sunnah’s doctrine of divine decree leaves the prophets speechless and without an argument, and the response to him]

(Section)

The Rāfidī said (1):

“One of its consequences is that the prophets are left speechless and without an argument. For when a prophet says to an unbeliever, ‘Believe in me and affirm my truthfulness,’ he responds (2), ‘Tell the One who sent you to create faith within me, or an effective capacity (3) to bring it about, so that faith becomes possible for me and I may believe in you (4). Otherwise, how can you require me to believe when I have no capacity to do so? Rather, He has created unbelief within me (5), and I cannot overpower (6) Allah Most High.’ The prophet would thus be left speechless and unable to answer him.”

In response, it is said: This is a matter into which people are very prone to wade (7). Many people, when commanded to fulfill an obligation, invoke divine decree as an excuse, saying, “Not until Allah decrees it for me (8), or Allah enables me (9) to do it, or until Allah ordains it (10).” Likewise, when forbidden to do something Allah has prohibited, a person says, “Allah has decreed (11) that I should do this. What recourse do I have?” and other such statements (12).