“Allah knows best what they would have done.” (1)
These hadiths, the various views on this question, and similar matters have been discussed at length elsewhere, such as in the book Refutation of the Conflict between Reason and Revelation (2) and other works] (3).
[The Second View on the Meaning of Injustice According to Those Who Affirm Divine Predestination]
The second view (4) is that injustice is possible and within His power, [and that He] (5) is exalted above it and does not commit it because of His knowledge and justice. Thus, He does not lay the sin of another [upon] (6) anyone (7).
[{“No bearer of burdens shall bear another’s burden.”}]
[Surah al-Isrā: 15]
[{“Whoever performs righteous deeds while being a believer shall fear neither injustice nor diminution.”}]
[Surah Tā Hā: 112]
Accordingly, punishing a person for another’s sin is an injustice; Allah is exalted (9) above it (10). As for
(1) The hadith appears in al-Bukhārī, 2/100 and 8/123; Muslim, 4/2047; al-Musnad (al-Ma'ārif ed.), 13/45 (no. 7321) and 13/259 (no. 7512); and Tartīb Musnad al-Tayālisī, 2/235. It is also narrated from Ibn 'Abbās, may Allah be pleased with him, through several routes.
(2) Ibn Taymiyya discusses these hadiths at length in Dar' Ta'ārud al-'Aql wa al-Naql (Averting the Conflict between Reason and Revelation); see especially vol. 8.
(3) The passage enclosed in square brackets is absent from A, B, N, and M. The omission begins on p. 306.
(4) The discussion of the first view concerning the meaning of the injustice from which Allah must be declared free began on p. 304.
(5) “And that He” is omitted only from N.
(6) “Upon” is omitted from N and M.
(7) 'A reads: “anyone’s sin.”
(8) The phrase “Allah Most High says” is omitted from B and A.
(9) B, A, and M read yatanazzahu (“He is exalted above it”); N reads munazzah (“He is exalted above it”).
(10) M alone adds after “above it”: “He does not commit it.”