My father Ja`far ibn Muhammad said: My father Muhammad ibn `Ali said: My father `Ali ibn al-Husayn said: My father al-Husayn ibn Ali (AS) said I heard my father `Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS) say: Actions have three states: obligations, merits, and sins. As for obligations, the form part of the command of Allah, the Mighty and High, His Pleasure, His destiny, His Decree, His Will and His Knowledge. As for merits, the do not form part of the command of Allah; rather, they form part of His Pleasure, His Destiny, His Divine Decree, His Will, and His Knowledge. As for sins, they do not form part of the command of Allah; rather, they form part of His Destiny, His Divine Decree, His Will, and His Knowledge. Hence, he will punish people because of them. The Compiler of this book says: With regards to sins, the predestination of Allah, the Mighty and High, resides in His Order regarding them. With regards to sins, His Will resides in His Prohibition of them. With regards to sins, His Divine Decree resides in His Knowledge of their measures and their extents.