Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Uyun Akhbar Ar-Ridha Volume 2 Chapter 32: On Ar-Ridha’’s Words on the Reasons for Various Things 32-1 Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taliqani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father, “I asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘O son of God’s Prophet!
Why did the Honorable the Exalted God create all things عنبسة قالَ: حَدَّثَنا دارِم بْنِ قبيصة قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ أَبيهِ عَنْ آبائِهِ عَنْأَبي طالِب عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: قالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: اطلبوا الخَيْر عِنْدَ حِسان الوُجُوه فَإِنَّ فعالَهُمْ أحرى أَن تكون حسنا. 347 - وَبِهذَا الإسناد قالَ: قالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: أَنَا خاتَم النَبِيِّين وَعَلِيِّ خاتَم الوَصِيِّين.
Why did He not create everything to be of the same kind?’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, ‘That was so that they do not think that He is incapable, and nothing can come to an atheist’s mind which the Honorable the Exalted God has not created. That was so that they cannot ask whether or not the Honorable the Exalted God is able to create such and such a creature, since the Blessed the Sublime has already created it.