with the firm word in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. Allah leads the wrongdoers astray, and Allah does whatever He wills.”

Yet He has not willed acts of disobedience from those who commit them in the sense of commanding or legislating them, loving or approving them, or prescribing them as religion. Rather, this latter kind of will is as expressed in His words, Exalted is He:

“Allah intends ease for you and does not intend hardship for you.”

And His words, Exalted is He:

“Allah wishes to make things clear to you and guide you to the ways of those before you.”

“Allah wishes to turn to you in mercy, but those who follow their desires wish you to deviate far from the right path.”

“Allah wishes to lighten your burdens, for mankind was created weak.”

And He, Exalted is He, says:

“Allah does not intend to impose hardship upon you, but He intends to purify you.”

And He, Exalted is He, says:

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

By drawing distinctions and explaining matters in detail, confusion is removed and error dispelled. I have discussed this at appropriate length in several places in my writings on fundamental principles, for this is not the place to elaborate on it.

As for the questioner’s words, “What does it mean for an excuse to exist?” the person who is excused, and knows that he is excused, is someone unable to perform an act despite wishing to do so. Examples include a sick person unable to stand in prayer, fast, or take part in jihad, and a poor person unable to spend, and similar cases. Such people are neither obligated to perform these acts nor punished for omitting them. The same applies to those unable to hear and understand, such as a child, a person of unsound mind, and someone whom the call to Islam has not reached.