calamity on earth or in yourselves except that it is in a Record before We bring it into being. Indeed, that is easy for Allah.”

This determination of decrees—which accords with His knowledge, glorified be He—takes place in various instances, both in general and in detail. He has recorded in the Preserved Tablet whatever He wills. When He creates the body of the fetus, before the soul is breathed into it, He sends an angel to it. The angel is instructed to record four matters and is told: “Write down his provision, his lifespan, his deeds, and whether he will be wretched or blessed.” There are other instances of this kind. This aspect of divine decree was denied in earlier times by the extremists among the Qadariyyah, but few deny it today.

The second level concerns Allah’s all-prevailing will and His all-encompassing power. It is to believe that whatever Allah wills happens, and whatever He does not will does not happen; that no movement or stillness occurs in the heavens or on earth except by the will of Allah, glorified be He; that nothing occurs in His dominion except what He wills; and that He, glorified and exalted, has power over all things, both those that exist and those that do not. There is no created being on earth or in heaven except that Allah, glorified be He, is its Creator. There is no creator other than Him and no Lord besides Him.

Nevertheless, He has commanded His servants to obey Him and His messengers and forbidden them to disobey Him. He, glorified be He, loves those who are mindful of Him, those who do good, and those who act justly. He is pleased with those who believe and do righteous deeds. He does not love the disbelievers, nor is He pleased with the defiantly disobedient. He does not command indecency, does not approve of disbelief for His servants, and does not love corruption.