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wa-qāla lladhīna ʾashrakū law shāʾa llāhu mā ʿabadnā min dūnihī min shayʾin naḥnu wa-lā ʾābāʾunā wa-lā ḥarramnā min dūnihī min shayʾin ka-dhālika faʿala lladhīna min qablihim fa-hal ʿalā r-rusuli ʾillā l-balāghu l-mubīnu
The polytheists say, ‘Had Allah wished, we would not have worshiped anything besides Him—neither we, nor our fathers—nor we would have forbidden anything without His sanction.’ Those who were before them had acted likewise. Is the apostles’ duty anything but to communicate in clear terms?
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah An-Nahl – Verse 35
35. “And those who associate (other gods with Allah) say: ‘If Allah had willed, we would not have worshipped aught besides Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have prohibited anything without (command from) Him.’ Thus did those before them. Is aught for the Messengers, but to deliver the manifest message?”
The issue of determinism and fatalism is one of the unsound justifications of the polytheists who claimed that Allah has predetermined us to worship other than Him. Had He determined otherwise we would not have been pagans. This issue has been discussed in verse 148 of Surah Al-’An‘am, No. 6 and verse 2 of Surah Az-Zukhruf, No. 43, also quoted from the pagans. The verse says:
“And those who associate (other gods with Allah) say: ‘If Allah had willed, we would not have worshipped aught besides Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have prohibited anything without (command from) Him.’…”
Question: Does it not reflect Allah’s condescending and consent to and with the matter, as He does not obstruct people from deviation? Answer: Definitely not, for Allah has simultaneously made adequate means for the guidance of the people. He has sent prophets and Books. Therefore, He has not decided that any one should deviate. At the same time, He has not compelled any one to embrace the faith, for compulsory faith is of no use. However, what is more dangerous than paganism and disbelief is the justification provided for it and its ascription to Allah.
It is like the case with the deviants who tend to provide justification not only for their deeds but they also seek to justify those wrong acts of their ancestors as well as their collaborators. Such a mode of behavior, that is, providing justification, is the task incumbent upon all those who have been deviants throughout history. The verse continues saying:
“…Thus did those before them. Is aught for the Messengers, but to deliver the manifest message?”