He went on to say:

Those who interpret this verse as meaning that “to worship Me” refers to the felicity or wretchedness for which He fashioned them and which He decreed for them, and who understand the hadith in the same way, take “to worship Me” to mean: “They submit to My will and power, becoming subjugated and humbled, so that My judgment and will take effect upon them, without their escaping My decree and predestination.” This meaning is correct in itself, even though the Qadariyyah deny it. Their denial of it is what made them people of innovation. Rather, Allah is the Creator of all things; whatever He wills comes to pass, and whatever He does not will does not come to pass. Among the Prophet’s supplications for refuge, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, are these words:

“I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah, which neither the righteous nor the wicked can go beyond, from the evil of what He has created and brought into being. And I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from His anger, His punishment, and the evil of His servants.”

His perfect words are those by which He brought things into being, as He, exalted is He, says:

“His command, when He wills a thing, is only to say to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.”

Neither the righteous nor the wicked can go beyond these words. No one escapes the destiny decreed for him or goes beyond what has been written for him in the inscribed Tablet. The Quran indicates this meaning in numerous places, such as His words:

“We have certainly created for Hell…”

And His words:

“They would not believe unless Allah willed.”

“Do you not know that Allah knows whatever is in heaven and earth? Indeed, that is in a Record. Indeed, that is easy for Allah.”

And His words concerning sorcery:

“But they cannot harm anyone through it except by Allah’s permission.”

“Whoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his heart to Islam; and whoever He wills to lead astray, He makes his heart tight and constricted.”

There are other passages to the same effect. However, His words:

“I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”

do not convey the meaning they adopted and sought to express—that all created things are subject to His will and irresistible power