did have power over him. Yet because of his fear and faith, Allah forgave him for this ignorance and error.

Evidence may also be drawn from His words:

“Did We not create you from a lowly fluid?”

Through to His words:

“How excellent are We in power!”

This is according to the interpretation that takes the expression as referring to power, for it encompasses power over created beings, although He, glorified is He, also has power to create them. Power to create them entails power over them, and power over them entails power to create them.

This is also explicitly stated in hadith, such as the Prophet’s words, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to Abū Masʿūd when he saw him beating his slave:

“Allah has greater power over you than you have over this slave.”

This makes clear the Lord’s power over the servant himself, and that He has greater power over him than he has over his own slave. It also affirms the servant’s power.

People have differed concerning “the power of the Lord and the servant.” One group maintains that both kinds encompass the act subsisting in the agent and the object of his power. This is the soundest view, and it is what the Quran and Sunnah affirm: each of the two kinds of power encompasses both the act subsisting in the one who possesses that power and the object of his power that is distinct from him. Some of the evidence for this concerning the Lord’s power has already been explained.

As for the servant’s power, references to his power to perform acts subsisting in him are numerous. This is agreed upon by those who affirm that the servant possesses power. Examples include His words:

“So fear Allah as much as you are able.”

“Then he must fast for two consecutive months before they touch one another. But whoever is unable must feed sixty needy people.”

“They will swear by Allah, ‘Had we been able, we would have gone forth with you.’ They destroy themselves”—and the rest of the verse.

And the Prophet’s words, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“Pray standing; if you are unable, then sitting; and if you are unable, then on your side.”