As for this man’s ignorance of one of Allah’s attributes—His knowledge and power—that does not take him outside the fold of faith. Do you not see that Umar ibn al-Khattab, Imran ibn Husayn, and a group of the Companions asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, about divine decree? It is known that they asked him about it only because they were ignorant of it. No Muslim may hold that, by asking about it, they became disbelievers, or that they were not believers at the time they asked about it.

Al-Layth narrated from Abu Qabil, from Shufayy al-Asbahi, from Abd Allah ibn Amr ibn al-As a hadith concerning divine decree, in which the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “What then should we do, if the matter has already been settled?” (1) These were the Companions of the Messenger of Allah—learned and virtuous men—asking about divine decree as an ignorant learner asks, not as an obstinate opponent asks. So the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, taught them what they did not know about it, and their ignorance of it before they learned it did them no harm. Had they not been permitted to remain ignorant of it, even for a time, he would have taught it to them alongside the testimony of faith, required it of them at the time of their acceptance of Islam, and made it the sixth pillar of Islam. So reflect, and seek Allah’s help.

This is what has occurred to me, based on what I have understood and retained of the foundational principles. I have exerted my utmost effort in interpreting all the hadiths of this chapter, sparing no effort; yet I do not declare myself free of error, for above everyone possessed of knowledge is One more knowing. And with Allah lies success.”

All of this is the speech of al-Hafiz Ibn Abd al-Barr. It is strong and sound speech, showing that he was an imam in knowledge and in understanding the foundations and branches of the Sharia. May Allah reward him greatly on behalf of Islam and the Muslims.