Likewise, if Allah knows that one person will be blessed in the Hereafter and another wretched, we say: That is because the latter performs the deeds of the wretched. Allah knows that he will become wretched through these deeds. To say, “He will be wretched even if he does not perform them,” would be false, for Allah admits no one to the Fire except on account of his sins. As the Most High says:

“I will surely fill Hell with you and all those among them who follow you.”

Thus He swore that He would fill it with Iblīs and his followers. Whoever follows Iblīs has disobeyed Allah Most High. Allah does not punish a servant for what He knows he will do until he actually does it. Thus, when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about the children of the polytheists, he said:

“Allah knows best what they would have done.”

This means that Allah knows what they would have done had they reached maturity. It has been reported that a messenger will be sent to them on the Day of Resurrection: whoever obeys him will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys him will enter the Fire. The obedience or disobedience that Allah knew of them will thereby become manifest.

Likewise, Allah created Paradise for those who believe in Him and obey Him. Whoever He has decreed to be among them, He enables to believe and obey. If someone says, “I will enter Paradise whether I am a believer or a disbeliever, if Allah knows that I am among its people,” he is fabricating a lie against Allah. For what Allah knows is that he will enter it through faith. If he has no faith, he is not the one whom Allah knows will enter Paradise. Rather, whoever is not a believer but a disbeliever is known to Allah as one of the people of the Fire, not one of the people of Paradise.

For this reason, He commanded people to supplicate, seek Allah’s help, and employ other such means. Whoever says, “I will neither supplicate nor ask, relying instead on divine decree,” is also mistaken, because Allah has made supplication