BB00366: Sharh-i-Hadith-i-ma min fi’lin yaf’alahu’l-’abd

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

Praise be to God Who brought into being through His Command whatsoever is in the heavens and earth. Then those who have believed in God and His signs—these shall be gathered unto God.

To proceed: I have examined what you asked regarding the tradition from the Imam Rida where he spoke concerning how no deed performed by a servant, whether good or evil, exists except that God has decreed it. Know that God, glorified be He, has not created anything upon which falls the name of “thing” except through what the essence of that thing accepts. And it is impossible for anything in the heavens and earth to receive existence except through seven aspects, which are: Will, Purpose, Measure, Decree, Permission, Term, and Book. Whosoever claims the absence of any one of these has disbelieved.

The proof that a thing cannot receive existence except through seven aspects is that which I shall now indicate through wisdom’s proof: For when a thing is mentioned, it has the rank of existence, and it cannot exist except through the rank of its essence, which is the cause of accepting existence. When duality is established, the link is established. When the link is established in the station of trinity, wisdom necessitates the rule of four in the descent of the Command from the unseen realm to the visible world. Therefore, in mentioning truth, the seven are required in all ranks of existence.

There is no difference in the ruling between existences and essences, as claimed by the philosophers who say existence is pure good from God with no choice for the servants, and essence has no existence except through mental considerations and imaginal conditions—for this is polytheism in the school of the Immaculate Ones, peace be upon them. The truth in reality is that existence in all ranks is created with free choice, for the question “Am I not your Lord?” falls only upon one who has choice, as indicated by the words of the Sovereign, the All-Choosing: “There is nothing that does not glorify His praise.” Whoever says otherwise, upon him is the word of punishment. I have expounded this matter in many stations, and whoever wishes to understand the reality of the answer should examine what I have detailed in the Letter Ha’.

What is meant by His exalted word “decree” is the fourth rank of the act wherein no alteration occurs afterwards. Therefore my spirit and all in the kingdom of Command and Creation are sacrificed for Him Who is distinguished by the rank of Decree, which God, glorified be He, carries out without alteration except in the station of the possibility of a thing, for that is an alteration that does not separate from the thing and accompanies the existence of everything in every condition. To this points His exalted word: “Say: Who then could prevent God in any way if He willed to destroy the Messiah, son of Mary, and his mother, and everyone on earth? And to God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and what is between them. He creates what He wills, and God has power over all things.”

When you understand the ruling of Decree in the fourth rank, you will be certain that no good or evil exists in contingent being except through God’s Decree and Measure and the five ranks, and all that exists only through the servant’s choice. For choice accompanies the existence of the thing, and the manifestations of the act are the existences of things which exist through God, glorified be He. When you understand what you have understood, then witness the mystery of Destiny in the ruling of the Ordainer—or else submit and you will be safe.

Glory be to God, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe. Peace be upon the Messengers. And praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.