and if a Qadarī invokes divine decree as an excuse, he supports the Murji’ah; but if he denies it, he and the Murji’ah stand at opposite extremes. The former goes to extremes in severity, leaving no room for the servant to seek Allah’s help in doing what he has been commanded and refraining from what he has been forbidden, while the latter goes to the opposite extreme.

It is well known that Allah Most High sent the messengers and revealed the scriptures so that the messengers would be believed in what they reported and obeyed in what they commanded. As He Most High says:

“We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by Allah’s permission.”

And He Most High says:

“Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah.”

Belief in divine decree completes this. Whoever affirms divine decree but sets it against the divine command has thereby destroyed the very foundation. It is well known that anyone who sets aside the commands and prohibitions with which Allah sent His messengers is an unbeliever, as Muslims, Jews, and Christians all agree. Indeed, these people’s position is self-contradictory: none of them can live by it, no creature’s welfare can be maintained on its basis, and no two people can live together according to it. For if divine decree is a valid excuse, it is a valid excuse for everyone; otherwise, it is a valid excuse for no one.

Suppose someone wrongs a man, insults him, takes his wealth, corrupts his family, or does something else of this kind. Whenever that man blames or condemns the offender, or seeks his punishment, he invalidates the use of divine decree as an excuse.

Whoever claims that a gnostic, upon witnessing divine decree, is no longer bound by the divine command has uttered words of unbelief that neither Jews nor Christians would accept. Indeed, this is rationally impossible and inconceivable under divine law. A hungry person distinguishes bread from dust, and a thirsty person distinguishes water from a mirage. He desires what satisfies his hunger and quenches his thirst, rather than what does him no good, although all of these things are created by Allah Most High. Thus a living being—even if