He was asked—may Allah sanctify his soul—about divine decrees:

“Do they embody wisdom or not? If they embody wisdom, has He willed what people will do or not? If His will has already preceded their actions, what does it mean for an excuse to exist in such circumstances?”

He replied:

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Yes, Allah has perfect wisdom in His decrees and ordainments, even if He has not made it known to His servants. For Allah possesses knowledge that He has taught His servants—or whomever He wills among them—and knowledge that He has not taught His servants:

“They encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursī extends over the heavens and the earth, and preserving them does not tire Him.”

He, glorified be He, has willed what His servants will do by His creative will. Thus, the Muslims agree that whatever Allah wills happens, and whatever He does not will does not happen. As He says:

“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.”

And as He says:

“They will continue to differ,”

“except those to whom your Lord has shown mercy; and for this He created them.”

And as He says:

“If Allah had willed, they would not have fought one another, but Allah does whatever He wills.”

And as He says:

“Allah makes firm those who believe