correct, then it is part of what the Messenger brought from Allah and is therefore from Allah. If it is erroneous, Allah did not send the Messenger with any error; it comes from the person himself and from Satan, not from Allah and His Messenger.

What is meant by ascribing it to Him (1) is ascribing it to Him with respect to His divinity—that is, with respect to command, revealed law, and religion: He loves it, is pleased with it, and rewards the one who does it. As for creation, all things are from Him. The people were not asking the Companions about what comes from Allah in terms of creation and predestination, for they already knew that everything that occurs is from Him. Even in their pre-Islamic ignorance, the Arabs affirmed divine decree and predestination.

Ibn Qutayba and others said:

“The Arabs, both before and after Islam, have always affirmed predestination (2).”

And indeed (3), Antara said:

O Abla, where can anyone escape from death,
If my Lord in heaven has decreed it?

Rather, the people’s question concerned what comes from Allah in respect of His command, religion, and revealed law—which He is pleased with and loves, and for which He rewards those who observe it.

The Companions knew that whatever contravenes revealed law and religion comes from the self and from Satan, even though it occurs by Allah’s decree and predestination, and even if He excuses the person responsible for it, just as He excuses acts of forgetfulness and error.

Forgetting what is good may be caused by Satan, as the Most High says:

“And if Satan causes you to forget, then once you remember, do not sit with the wrongdoing people.”

[Surah al-Anām: 68]

The young servant of Moses—peace be upon him—said:

“And none but Satan made me forget to mention it.”

[Surah al-Kahf: 63]

And He said:

“But Satan caused him to forget to mention Joseph to his master.”

[Surah Yūsuf: 42].