940 - Ismah ibn Isam informed me, saying: Hanbal told us, saying: Abu Abd Allah said: Ability (al-istita'ah) belongs to Allah, as does power. Whatever Allah wills of that comes to be, and whatever He does not will does not come to be. It is not as these people say—meaning the Mu'tazilah—that ability belongs to them.
٩٤٠ - أَخْبَرَنِي عِصْمَةُ بْنُ عِصَامٍ، قَالَ: ثَنَا حَنْبَلٌ، قَالَ: قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ: الِاسْتِطَاعَةُ لِلَّهِ وَالْقُوَّةُ. مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ كَانَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، وَمَا لَمْ يَشَأْ لَمْ يَكُنْ، لَيْسَ كَمَا يَقُولُ هَؤُلَاءِ، يَعْنِي الْمُعْتَزِلَةَ الِاسْتِطَاعَةُ إِلَيْهِمْ
