another person’s sin and is not punished until a messenger has been sent to him, He then explains how He acts when His wisdom and will require a town’s destruction: He does not punish its people without sins on their part, as He has stated. The Most High says:

“When We intend to destroy a town, We command its affluent inhabitants, and they transgress within it.” [al-Isrā’ 16]

He thus states that this command occurs only when He intends their destruction. Whatever Allah, Mighty and Majestic, wills comes to pass, so their destruction must inevitably occur. Destruction, however, comes only because of sins. The command imposing obligations—that is, the command to do good deeds and the prohibition of evil deeds—does not necessarily entail disobedience. He may command them and they obey, so that they do not deserve punishment. This is unlike the creative command, as in the words of the Most High:

“And inspired it with its wickedness and its righteousness (8).” [al-Shams 8]

And as the Most High says:

“We have sent the devils against the disbelievers, inciting them relentlessly (83).” [Maryam 83]

The Most High also says:

“So when they deviated, Allah caused their hearts to deviate.” [al-Saff 5]

And the Most High says:

“We turn their hearts and eyes away, just as they did not believe in it the first time.” [al-An‘ām 110]

And the Most High says:

“Whoever He wills to lead astray, He makes his chest tight and constricted, as though he were climbing into the sky. Thus does Allah place defilement upon those who do not believe (125).” [al-An‘ām 125]

A hadith states: “Among the rewards for a good deed is another good deed after it, and among the punishments for an evil deed is another evil deed after it.” The two Sahīh collections report that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Adhere to truthfulness, for