are possible without the will of Allah strips Allah of His Authority. And anyone who claims
that sins are committed without Allah's Might tells a lie about Allah, and whoever tells lies
about Allah, He will lodge him into the fire." In this tradition, by goodness and evil he means
health and sickness respectively due to this verse: "... and We try you by evil and by good by
way of probation" (Qura'n, 21:35).
Imam al-Baqir is quoted saying, "Allah, the Exalted and the Great, is more compassionate
towards His creation than forcing them to commit sins then penalizing them for doing so, and
Allah is more Mighty than willing to do something and it does not take place." He was asked
once whether there was a distance between compulsion and destiny, and his answer was,
"Yes! One more spacious than that between the heavens and the earth!" He has also said,
"There should neither be compulsion nor an unrestricted freedom; the best course is a middle
one." When he was asked about the middle course, he said, "Let me give you an example:
You may see a man committing a sin, and you may try to stop him from doing so but he
refuses to desist, whereupon you leave him to commit that sin. When he does not listen to you
but insists on sinning, it does not mean that you yourself have encouraged him to commit that
sin."
- "Al-Nafi`"
As regarding the Attribute "al-Nafi'", Allah subhanahu wa ta`la has said, "Whatever benefit
comes to you (O man!), it is from Allah, and whatever misfortune befalls you, it is from your
own self" (Qura'n, 4:79).
Al-Nafi` is the source of any benefit and goodness for the life in this world and for the creed.
He alone grants good health, wealth, happiness, authority, guidance and piety. He enables all
His creatures to receive the benefits He creates for them. He has facilitated the path leading to
Him for those who aspire to tread it, Who benefitted the souls through His prophets, Who
nourished the bodies through food, Who warded off disease through medicine, Who kept
affliction away through favours and goodness, and Who has benefitted everyone, be he an
angel, a human, or a jinn.
Ibn Abbas says, "I was sitting once behind the Messenger of Allah so he said to me,Young
man! I would like to teach you a few words [of wisdom]: If you safeguard your rights towards
Allah, He will protect you. If you remain mindful of Allah's rights on you, you will find Him
looking after you. If you have a plea, then plead to Him; if you seek help, seek it from Him,
and bear in mind that if all people gather to benefit you in anything, they will not be able to
do so except in what He has already allotted for you, and if they all gather together to harm
you in any way, they will never be able to do so except if He has already decreed it on you;
the ink has dried, and the tablets have been removed.'"
Al-Darr al-Nafi` is the One from Whom everything good or bad ensues; all is attributed to