Another Chapter on the Divine Will

When someone is asked, “Tell me: if Allah had willed to create all people obedient—like the angels, for instance—would He have been able to do so?” and he answers, “No,” he has described Allah in a way contrary to how Allah has described Himself. For He, exalted is He, says, “He is the Irresistible above His servants,” and He also says, “He is able to send upon you a punishment from above you.”

If, however, the man says, “Yes, He is able,” then say to him, “Consider this: if Allah had willed that Iblīs be like Gabriel in obedience, would He not have been able to make him so?” If he answers, “No,” he has contradicted himself and attributed to Allah qualities other than His own.

Should he then say, “When a person fornicates, drinks wine, or slanders, is that not by Allah’s will?” the reply is, “Indeed, it is.”

If he goes on to ask, “Why, then, are the prescribed punishments (ḥudūd) not carried out against him?” say, “The commands of Allah are not to be set aside. Were a man to sever his slave’s hand, that would occur by Allah’s will and he would still be liable to the people; and were he to acknowledge that the ḥudūd apply to him, that too would take place by Allah’s will. Both matters happen by Allah’s will. Yes, the deed itself took place by Allah’s will—but whoever acts in accordance with the will that pertains to sin gains no divine pleasure, nor is there any justice in his deed or his statement.”