act is praiseworthy or blameworthy; it also indicates that He does not punish anyone after sending a messenger.

And Allah, glorified is He, knows best.

[The words of Abū Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Basrī]

Shaykh Abū Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Basrī said in his book on the foundations of the Sunnah and monotheism:

“Chapter on Being Created with the Natural Disposition

He said:

Allah created His creatures with the natural disposition, as expressed in His words, glorified is He:

‘The natural disposition with which Allah has created mankind.’

This consists in acknowledging His lordship while knowing His oneness. For He, glorified is He, created His creatures with knowledge of them, beholding what their affairs and ultimate outcomes would be. He therefore created them according to what He knew of them and willed—not innately believers or disbelievers, but acknowledging and knowing Him, neither affirming His oneness nor denying Him.

Likewise, a report relates that Allah Most High said:

‘I created My creatures inclined to the truth and acknowledging Me, neither denying Me nor affirming My oneness.’

This is an affirmation, as well as a denial of compulsion. Their ultimate outcomes are all established in His sight and knowledge, and He has sovereign authority over them. Yet He is too just to compel them to disbelief or anything else, thereby nullifying their acquisition of deeds. If their acquisition of deeds were nullified, moral responsibility and testing would likewise be nullified. For moral responsibility cannot rest on an innate compulsion, nor can it operate through necessity and coercion; it can only involve choice. They have been commanded to fulfil these obligations, and He has revealed the Books and sent the messengers, and all