Abū al-Abbās Ibn Taymiyya was asked about good and evil, the divine decree governing creation, and the commands and prohibitions of divine law.

He replied:

Praise be to Allah. Know that Allah is the Creator, Lord, and Sovereign of all things. There is no Lord besides Him and no Creator other than Him. Whatever He wills comes to pass, and whatever He does not will does not come to pass. He has power over all things and knowledge of all things.

The servant is commanded to obey Allah and His Messenger and forbidden to disobey Allah and His Messenger. If he obeys, that obedience is a blessing Allah has bestowed upon him, and he receives recompense and reward through Allah’s grace and mercy. If he disobeys, he deserves blame and punishment. Allah has the conclusive argument against him, whereas no one has any argument against Allah.

All of this occurs by Allah’s decree, predestination, will, and power. Yet He loves obedience, commands it, rewards those who practise it, and honours them. He hates disobedience, forbids it, punishes those who commit it, and humiliates them. Whatever blessings come to the servant, Allah has bestowed them upon him; whatever evil befalls him is due to his sins and acts of disobedience.

As the Most High says:

“Whatever calamity befalls you is because of what your hands have earned.”

And the Most High says:

“Whatever good befalls you is from Allah, and whatever evil befalls you is from yourself.”

That is, whatever abundance, victory, and guidance come to you, Allah has bestowed them upon you; whatever drought, humiliation, and evil befall you are due to your sins and misdeeds. All things come to pass through His will, power, and act of creation.