re created by God, it follows that to tyrannise and to ascribe plurality
to the Deity is to render obedience. To this the Ash'arians reply that
orders are of two kinds, immediate and mediate. The former which they call
"Amr-i-takwiti," is the order, "Be and it was." This comprehends all
existences, and according to it whatever is ordered must come to pass. The
latter they call "Amr-i-tashri'i," an order given in the Law. This comes to
men through prophets and thus is to be obeyed. True obedience is to act
according to that which is revealed, not according to the secret intentions
of God, for that we know not.

(iii). If God decrees the acts of men, He should bear the name of that
which he decrees. Thus the causer of infidelity is an infidel; of tyranny a
tyrant, and so on; but to speak thus of God is blasphemy.

(iv). If infidelity is decreed by God He must wish it; but a prophet
desires faith and obedience and so is opposed to God. To this the orthodox
reply, that God knows by His eternal knowledge that such a man will die an
infidel. {177} If a prophet intends by bringing the message of salvation to
such an one to make God's knowledge become ignorance, he would be doing
wrong; but as he does not know the secret decrees of God, his duty is to
deliver his message according to the Hadis: "A prophet has only to deliver
the clear message."

(v). The Mutazilites claimed as on their side all verses of the Quran, in
which the words to do, to construct, to renew, to create, &c., are applied
to men. Such are the verses: "Whatever is in the heavens and in the earth
is God's that He may reward those who _do_ evil according to their deeds:
and those who _do_ good will He reward with good things." (Sura liii. 32).
"Whoso shall have _wrought_ evil shall not be recompensed but with its
like: but whoso shall have _done_ the things that are right, whether male
or female and is a believer, these shall enter Paradise." (Sura xl. 43).
Say: "the truth is from the Lord; let him then who will believe; and let
him who will, be an infidel." (Sura xviii. 28).[170] "Those who add Gods to
God will say: 'If God had pleased neither we nor our fathers had given Him
companions.' Say: 'Verily ye follow only a conceit, ye utter lies.'" (Sura
vi. 149). The Hadis is also very plain. "All good is in Thy hands and evil
is not to Thee." (Al-khair kuluhu fi yadaika wash-sharru laisa 'alaika.)

The Ash'arians have one famous text which they bring to bear aga