except with His knowledge.’ [Fātir 11]
They affirm hearing and sight for Allah and do not deny these attributes as the Muʿtazilah do. They also affirm strength for Allah, as He said: ‘Did they not see that Allah, who created them, was greater than them in strength?’ [Fussilat 15]
They hold that no good or evil occurs on earth except what Allah wills, and that all things occur by Allah’s will, as Allah Most High said: ‘You do not will unless Allah wills’ [al-Takwīr 29], and as the Muslims say: ‘Whatever Allah wills happens, and whatever He does not will does not happen.’
They hold that no one has the ability to perform an act before performing it, nor can anyone escape Allah’s knowledge or do anything that Allah knows he will not do. They acknowledge that there is no creator except Allah, that Allah creates the deeds of His servants, and that His servants cannot create anything.
They affirm that Allah has granted the believers success in obeying Him and withheld His aid from the disbelievers; that He has shown kindness to the believers, looked after their interests, set them aright, and guided them, but has not shown kindness to the disbelievers, set them aright, or guided them. Had He set them aright, they would have been