The Innate Disposition Allah Has Placed in Humanity

Allah, exalted is He, created His creatures in a sound state, free from both disbelief and faith. He then addressed them, issuing commands and prohibitions. Whoever chose to disbelieve did so by his own act—denying and rejecting the truth—after Allah’s khudhlān (withdrawal of support) befell him. Conversely, whoever chose to believe did so by his own act—acknowledging and affirming the truth—through Allah’s tawfīq (divine enabling grace) and His aid.

He brought forth the offspring of Adam from his loins, endowed them with reason, addressed them, commanded them to have faith, and forbade them to disbelieve. They acknowledged His rubūbiyyah (Lordship), and that acknowledgement on their part constituted faith. Thus every child is born upon that fiṭrah (innate disposition). Whoever later falls into disbelief has altered and corrupted it, whereas whoever believes and attests to the truth has remained firm upon it and persevered.