Allah, the Exalted, says:

“Shall We then treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like those who spread corruption on the earth? Or shall We treat the God-fearing like the wicked?” (Ṣād 38:28)

And He says:

“Do those who commit evil deeds imagine that We will make them like those who believe and do righteous deeds—equal in their life and in their death? How evil is the judgment they pass!” (al-Jāthiyah 45:21)

And He says:

“Shall We treat the Muslims like the criminals? What is the matter with you—how do you judge?” (al-Qalam 68:35–36)

Whoever fails to distinguish between the friends of Allah and His enemies, between what He has commanded and loves—namely faith and righteous works—and what He hates, forbids, and detests—namely disbelief, debauchery, and disobedience—while still affirming that His power, will, and act of creation embrace all things, such a person inevitably falls into the religion of the polytheists who declared, “Had Allah willed, neither we nor our fathers would have committed shirk, nor would we have declared anything unlawful” (al-Anʿām 6:148).

Divine decree is to be affirmed, not used as an excuse. The servant is instructed to refer the matter to the decree when calamities strike, but to seek Allah’s forgiveness when sins and faults occur, as He, the Exalted, says: “So be patient; surely the promise of Allah is true. And seek forgiveness for your sin” (Ghāfir 40:55).

For this very reason Adam prevailed over Moses—peace be upon them—when Moses reproached him for the calamity that befell them on account of his eating from the tree, and Adam reminded him