And His words, Exalted is He: “So whoever wills—let him believe, and whoever wills—let him disbelieve” (Q 18:29); this, too, is a warning. He, Exalted, also says: “I did not create jinn and mankind except that they may worship Me” (Q 51:56)—that is, that they single Me out in devotion. Yet everything takes place only by Allah’s decree: the good and the bad, the sweet and the bitter, the harmful and the beneficial.

Allah, Exalted is He, further says: “Had your Lord willed, everyone on earth would have believed, all of them together. So would you compel people until they become believers?” (Q 10:99).

And He—Exalted—is the One who says: “Even if We were to send down the angels to them, the dead were to speak to them, and We were to gather before them everything face-to-face, they would still not believe unless Allah so willed” (Q 6:111).

He, Exalted, also says: “No soul can believe except by Allah’s permission” (Q 10:100).

And He, Exalted, says: “Had your Lord willed, He could have made all people a single community, but they will continue to differ—except those upon whom your Lord has mercy” (Q 11:118–119); that is, by His will—“and for that He created them” (Q 11:119).

He, Exalted, further says: “Worship Allah and shun the false deities. Among them are those whom Allah has guided, and among them are those upon whom misguidance has become inevitable” (Q 16:36).

And He, Exalted, says: “You do not will except that Allah—the Lord of all worlds—wills” (Q 81:29); meaning: in accordance with Allah’s decree, glorified is He.

And Shuʿayb—may blessings be upon our Prophet and upon him—said: “We would surely be fabricating a lie against Allah…”