A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Dr. ‘Abd al-Hakim Sherman A. Jackson posited the following dialogue.   A Mu’tazilah would say, “Glorified be Allah ( s.w.t. ) Who is Above committing evil.”   An Ash’ari would reply, “No, glorified be Allah ( s.w.t. ) in Whose Dominion nothing occurs without His Permission.”   The Mu’tazilah would ask, “Does Allah ( s.w.t. ) Will that He be disobeyed?”   The Ash’ari would reply with, “Could Allah ( s.w.t. ) be disobeyed against His Will?”   The Mu’tazilah would respond, “If Allah ( s.w.t. ) Denies me guidance, and Decrees my perdition, does Allah ( s.w.t. ) Commit a good or an evil act?”   The Ash’ari would say, “If Allah ( s.w.t. ) Denies you something that belongs to you, then Allah ( s.w.t. ) Commits an evil act.  But if Allah (s.w.t.) Denies you something that Belongs to Him, then Allah ( s.w.t. ) simply Singles Out for His Mercy whomever Allah ( s.w.t. ) Pleases.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following was extracted from Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari’s ( q.s. ) Taj al-‘Arus al-Hawy li Tahdzib an-Nufus , with translation done by Dr. Sherman Jackson in his “Sufism for non-Sufis”.   On sins and repentance, Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari’s ( q.s. ) wrote, “A person who engages in sinful behaviour is like a brand-new pot beneath which a flame is lit for a duration, as a result of which its bottom blackens.   If you hasten to wash it, this blackness will be washed away.   But if you leave it and cook in it time and again, this blackness will settle into it to the point that it crusts and washing it will be of no use.   Repentance is what washes away the soot of the heart, such that deeds emerge carrying the scent of being Accepted by God.   So, constantly ask God for Repentance.   And if you attain this, your time will be well spent.   For this is ...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is taken from The Problem of Suffering: Muslim Theological Reflections by Dr. ‘Abd al-Hakim Sherman A. Jackson, 18 th September 2010.   Dr. Jackson is the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Arabic & Islamic Studies, University of Michigan.   The Mu’tazilite says, “Glorified be Allah ( s.w.t. ) Who is Above committing evil.”   The Ash’arite replies, “No, Glorified be Allah ( s.w.t. ) in Whose Dominion nothing occurs without His Permission.”   The Mu’tazilite responds, “Does Allah ( s.w.t. ) Will that He be disobeyed?”   The Ash’arite retorts, “Could Allah ( s.w.t. ) be disobeyed against His Will?”   The Mu’tazilite claims, “If Allah ( s.w.t. ) Denies me guidance and decrees my perdition, does Allah ( s.w.t. ) Commit a good or an evil act?”   The Ash’arite says, “If Allah ( s.w.t. ) Denies you something that belongs to you, then Allah ( s.w.t. ) Commits an evil act.   But if Allah (...