Praise be to Him...

Praise be to Him, Whom no place contains, yet from Whom nothing on earth or in heaven is hidden." "Shall I redeem my oath, Commander of the faithful?" the man asked. "No," he answered, "you did not swear by God.

Therefore no atonement for perjury is required of you, for you were only swearing by something else." ************** The historians (ahl al-sira wa 'ulama al-naqala)report that a man 1 came to the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, and asked: "Commander of the faithful, tell me about God, the Exalted. Did you see Him when you worshipped Him?" "I am not one who worships someone whom I have not seen" he answered. "Then how did you find Him when you saw Him?" he asked.

"Woe upon you," he said, "the eyes do not see Him in terms of human eye-sight. Rather the hearts see Him through the inner realities of faith (Iman).

(He can be) known through evidence and can be characterised by signs, which cannot be compared to people nor attained through sense perception." The man went away saying: "Indeed, God knows well how He should deliver His message." In this account there is evidence that (the Commander of the faithful) denied the possibility of direct vision of God, the Mighty and High. ************** [Al-Hasan b.

Abi al-Hasan al-Basri reported:] A man came to the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, after his departure from the battle of Siffin. He asked him: ": commander of the faithful, tell me: Was the battle which took place between you and these people a result of the decree and determination of God?" "You have never gone up a hill nor gone down into a valley without God's decree and determination being present in the action," he answered.

"Then, Commander of the faithful, I regard (all) my concerns as God's responsibility," he said. "Why?" "If the decree and determination of God drive us to act," he said, "then what is the point of rewarding us for obedience and punishing us for disobedience?" "Fellow," said the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, have you thought that it was a sealed decree and determination? Don't think that.

That sort of statement is the doctrine of idolaters, supporters of Satan and opponents of God, the Merciful. (It is such people) and the Majis with them who have adopted it. God, exalted be His- Majesty, gives commands as a matter of free choice (takhyir), and gives prohibitions as a warning (against an action.) He puts the burden on us.