These are the Muʿtazila and those who side with them, and their doctrine is invalid in light of the proofs previously presented for the levels of divine decree.

• The polytheist-like: they acknowledge Allah’s decree yet use it as an argument against His law, just as Allah says about them: “Those who associate others with Allah will say, ‘Had Allah willed, neither we nor our fathers would have practiced idolatry, nor would we have declared anything unlawful.’ In the same way those before them denied the truth until they tasted Our punishment.” ⦗Al-Anʿām 148⦘.

• The satanic: they affirm both the decree and the law but claim that this amounts to a contradiction on Allah’s part, impugning His wisdom. They protest: “How can He command and forbid His servants when He has already decreed for them matters that may oppose what He commands and forbids? Is this not sheer contradiction and conduct devoid of wisdom?”

Such people are the followers of Iblīs, for he contested Allah’s command to prostrate to Adam, saying: “I am better than he; You created me from fire, whereas You created him from clay.” ⦗Al-Aʿrāf 12⦘.

The refutation of these two factions is the same as the refutation of all who invoke the divine decree to justify disobedience to Allah, exalted is He.