The plea of one who invokes his Lord’s decree
Only increases his torment, like an ailing woman’s plea.

As for our contentment with the decree,
We are commanded only to accept such things as calamities:

Illness and poverty, humiliation and exile,
And any harm unaccompanied by wrongdoing.

As for deeds that He dislikes us to perform,
We must not approve what He abhors merely because He wills it.

Some scholars have said: “There must be no approval
Of acts of disobedience and major sins.”

Another group says: “We are content with His decreeing,
But not with the thing decreed—that vilest of deeds.”

Others say: “We accept these deeds insofar as they are attributed
To Him, but meet what pertains to us with displeasure.”

For these deeds are the Lord’s creation,
Yet, for His creatures, they are not mere acts of instinct.

Thus we accept them insofar as He creates them,
But abhor them as acts by which sin is incurred.

The accountable servant’s disobedience is his neglect
Of what his Lord commands, even though it occurs by His will.

For the Lord of creation has truly declared
That His servants will be in Hell or Paradise.

Just as they experience the like in this world;
Even beasts experience suffering and ease.

Whatever distinctions His supreme wisdom has ordained,
It has ordained with knowledge, might, and mercy.

In His might, He drives those destined for punishment
Towards torment through the means He decrees;