Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/28

8 Lord and went astray"?' He said, 'Yes.' He said, 'Then dost thou blame me for doing actions which God wrote concerning me that I would do them forty years before He created me?' The Apostle of God said, "Adam defeated Moses in this argument."'—Muslim.

It is related from ʿÁyesha that, 'The Apostle of God was called to the funeral of a young child of one of the Helpers; and I said, "O Apostle of God, this one is blessed. He is one of the birds of paradise, for he has neither done evil nor thought it." He replied, "O ʿÁyesha, it may be otherwise, for verily God created a people for paradise when they were yet in their fathers' loins, and He created a people for the fire when they were yet in their fathers' loins."'—Muslim.

It is related from Abú Hurairah that he said, 'I said, "O Apostle of God, I am a youth, and I fear lest I commit adultery, and I have not the means wherewith to marry a wife"—as if he were seeking permission from him to become an eunuch—but the Apostle of God remained silent. Then I said the same thing again, but he remained silent. Then I repeated it, but he remained silent. Then I repeated the same words, and the Apostle of God said, "O Abú Hurairah, the pen has already dried (after registering) what you will be worthy of; therefore become an eunuch or refrain."'—Al Bukhárí.

It is related from ʿAbduʾlláh bin ʿOmar that, 'The Apostle of God said, "The hearts of the sons of Adam are all between two fingers of the Merciful, like one heart. He turneth them as He wills." Then the Apostle of God said, "O God, turn our hearts to obey thee."'—Muslim.

It is related from ʿUbádah binuʾṣ-Ṣámit that, 'The Apostle of God said, "Verily the first thing which was created was a pen. And He said to it, 'Write.' It said, 'What shall I write?' He replied, 'Write down the divine decrees.' So it wrote down all that was and all that will be to eternity."'—At Tirmidhí

It is related from Muslim bin Yasár that he said, 'ʿOmar binuʾl-Khaṭṭáb was asked concerning this verse (of the Qurʾán), "And when thy Lord brought forth their descendants from the backs of the sons of Adam." ʿOmar said, "I heard the Apostle of God questioned concerning this verse, and he replied, 'Verily