of that. Rather, he is commanded to convey the message to him, even though the Messenger knows that he will not believe, as with those of whom Allah says:

“Indeed, those against whom your Lord’s decree has become binding will not believe,”

“Even if every sign should come to them, until they see the painful punishment.”

And His words:

“Indeed, those who disbelieve—it is all the same to them whether you warn them or do not warn them—they will not believe.”

Some angels and some human beings, including prophets and others, may know that a particular individual among these people will not believe, even though they are commanded to convey Allah’s commands and prohibitions to him. This does not require him to combine two mutually contradictory things. What is required is contrary to what is known will occur. Allah does whatever He wills by His power. As for what He does not will, He knows that He will not do it and that He has the power to do it: were He to will it, He would do it. His knowledge that He will not do it does not preclude His having the power to do it.

As for the servants whom Allah knows will obey Him through their own volition, will, and ability—even though He is the Creator of all this—His creating it is all the stronger grounds for His knowing it before it comes into being. As the Most High says:

“Does He who created not know, while He is the Most Subtle, the All-Aware?”

As for the things He commands them to do which they do not do, it is known that these will not occur because they do not will them, not because they lack the ability to do them. Commanding them to do such things is not commanding them to do what lies beyond their ability. Rather, it is commanding them to do what they would be able to do if they willed it. Yet they do not do it because they do not will it.

Jahm and those of the Mu'tazilah who agreed with him shared the view that Allah’s will, love, and approval all have the same meaning. The Mu'tazilah then said that He does not love disbelief, wickedness, and disobedience, and therefore does not will them. They thus maintained that these occur without His will. But the Jahmiyyah said: “Rather, He wills