He also says, “Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is Guardian over everything” (al-Zumar 39:62); and, “Is there any creator other than Allah who provides for you from the heaven and the earth?” (Fatir 35:3). Thus Allah alone brings creation and decree into being, while the servant possesses will and choice and performs acts: by his own choice he may walk to the mosque, and by his own choice he may walk to the theatres, for he has the capacity. A human being whom Allah has not granted power or ability—such as the insane or the one coerced—has been excused by Allah, for he has no will and no intention. But whoever does possess will and intention is the one who selects an action for himself, and reward or punishment is attached to his deed, not to the deed of Allah.

Allah the Exalted says, “Indeed, those who believed” (al-Baqarah 2:62; al-Nisa 4:59) and “Indeed, those who disbelieved” (Al-ʿImran 3:116), attributing faith to them and likewise attributing disbelief. He also says, “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger” (al-Nisa 4:59) and “Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger” (al-Nur 24:52), attributing the actions to the servants.

The proof that the servant possesses will and intention is His statement, “You do not will except that Allah wills; indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise” (al-Insan 76:30). Here Allah affirms a will for Himself and a will for the servant, placing the servant’s will under His own: “For whoever among you wills to take the straight path” (al-Takwir 81:28) — he wills