Permission and the Decree

As for permission (idhn), He, Exalted is He, speaks of the cosmic permission when He mentions sorcery:

“They could not harm anyone with it except by Allah’s permission.”

That is, by His will and power; for Allah, Mighty and Exalted, has never allowed sorcery in the sense of making it lawful.

Regarding the religious permission He says:

“Or do they have partners who have prescribed for them in religion that for which Allah has given no permission?”

And the Exalted says:

“We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner, and as one who calls to Allah by His permission.”

He also says:

“We sent no messenger except that he should be obeyed by Allah’s permission.”

And He says:

“Whatever palm-tree you cut down or left standing on its trunks, it was by Allah’s permission.”

As for the decree (qaḍā’), He speaks of the cosmic decree, saying:

“He completed them as seven heavens in two days.”

And the Sublime says:

“When He decrees a matter He only says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is.”

Concerning the religious decree He says:

“Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him,”

meaning: He has commanded it. The intention is not that He has predestined it, for He has indeed been worshipped alongside others, as He Himself informs elsewhere, such as His words:

“They worship, apart from Allah, that which can neither harm them nor benefit them, and they say, ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.’”