, who affirm only a will without wisdom and a volition without mercy, love, or pleasure. They regard all created things as equal in relation to Him, making no distinction between will, love, and pleasure. Rather, concerning whatever disbelief, wickedness, and disobedience occurs, they say that He loves and approves of it just as He wills it. When they say that He does not love or approve of it as religion, they also say that He does not will it as religion. As for faith and piety that do not come to pass, in their view He neither loves nor approves of them, just as He does not will them. Yet Allah Most High says:
“When they plot by night words that displease Him.”
Thus, He declares that He does not approve of it, although He has ordained and decreed it. The majority mentioned above do not agree with the Mu‘tazilah in denying Allah Most High’s power and the all-encompassing scope of His creation, will, and power. Nor do they liken Him to His creatures in what He makes obligatory and forbids, as these others have done. Nor do they strip Him of the attributes and acts with which He has described Himself. Rather, they affirm for Him the attributes and acts He has affirmed for Himself, and declare Him free of the attributes and acts from which He has declared Himself free.
They say that Allah is the Creator and Sovereign of all things; whatever He wills comes to pass, and whatever He does not will does not come to pass; and He has power over all things. He loves those who do good, those who are mindful of Him, and those who act justly. He is pleased with the foremost pioneers among the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who follow them in goodness. He does not love corruption, does not approve of disbelief for His servants, and does not approve of speech that contravenes the command of Allah and His Messenger.
They also say:
Although He is the Creator, Lord, and Sovereign of all things, He has nevertheless made distinctions among created beings, both in themselves and in their deeds. As Allah Most High says:
“Shall We then treat Muslims like criminals?”
And as He says:
“Or do those who commit evil deeds think that We will make them like those who believe and do righteous deeds—equal in their life and their death? How evil is their judgment!”
Allah Most High also says:
“Or shall We treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like those who spread corruption on earth? Or shall We treat the righteous like the wicked?”
And Allah Most High says: