Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/29

Rh God created Adam and then stroked his back with His right hand and brought out from it certain descendants and said, "I have created these for paradise, and they will do the actions of the people of paradise." Then He stroked Adam's back with His hand and brought forth (other) descendants and said, "These I have created for the fire, and they will do the actions of the people of the fire." Then a man said, 'Of what use, then, are works, O Apostle of God?' The Apostle of God replied, 'Verily when God creates a servant for paradise, He causes him to do the actions of the people of paradise, until he dies doing the actions of the people of paradise, and then He causes him to enter paradise thereby; and when He creates a servant for the fire, He causes him to do the actions of the people of the fire, until he dies doing the actions of the people of the fire. Then He causes him to enter the fire thereby.'"'—Málik, At Tirmidhí, Abú Dáud.

It is related from Abú Khizámah from his father that he said, 'I said, "O Apostle of God, inform me about the charms which I use, the medicine which I swallow, and the shields which I use for protection, whether they will prevent anything of that which is predestined by God." He replied, "These are amongst the things predestined by God."'—Aḥmad, At Tirmidhí.

It is related from Abú Hurairah that he said, 'The Apostle of God came out to us when we were debating about fate. Then he became so angry that his face became red to such a degree that it seemed as if the seed of a pomegranite had been split open on his two cheeks. Then he said, "Is it this you have been commanded to do? or was it for this that I was sent to you? Those who preceded you were destroyed when they debated about this matter. I adjure you! I adjure you! not to argue about it."

It is related from ʿÁyesha that she said, 'I said, "O Apostle of God, what becomes of the children of believers?" He replied, "They are as their fathers." I said, "O Apostle of God, even without works?" He replied, "God knows best what they would have done." I said, " And what of the children of the polytheists?" He replied, "They will be as their fathers." I said, "Without works?" He replied, "God knows best what they would have done."'—Abú Dáud.