Their opponents among the affirmationist theologians, however, took the contrary position. They allowed the servant no action or causal influence in these generated effects. Rather, they regarded them as things Allah creates that fall outside the scope of the servants’ power and action. They attributed no action to the servant except what occurs where his power resides—that is, within his own body, not beyond it.

The middle position is that these things called generated effects arise through the servant’s action together with other causes that Allah creates.

Thus, satiety results from the servant’s eating and swallowing, together with the properties Allah has placed in the human body and in food that help bring about satiety.

Likewise, the loss of life results from the servant’s action together with the susceptibility to severance that Allah has placed in the affected body. He, glorified is He, creates the effect generated by these two causes, one of which is the servant’s action; and He is the Creator of both causes.

For this reason, the servant is rewarded for generated effects, and Allah Most High records deeds to his credit on their account. He mentions direct actions and generated effects in two verses of the Quran. Allah Most High says:

“That is because no thirst, fatigue, or hunger afflicts them in the cause of Allah, nor do they tread any ground that enrages the disbelievers, nor inflict any loss upon an enemy, without a righteous deed being recorded for them on that account.”

All these things belong to what they call generated effects: thirst, fatigue, and hunger are generated effects, as is the disbeliever’s [anger].