that; then Allah sends the angel to him, who is commanded to record four matters: his provision, his deeds, his lifespan, and whether he will be wretched or blessed.” Just as Allah has recorded the good and evil a person will do, while rewarding him for the good and punishing him for the evil, so too He has recorded the provision he will receive, whether lawful or unlawful, while punishing him for unlawful provision.

Thus, everything that exists comes about by Allah’s will and decree, as do all deeds. Yet divine decree excuses no one. Rather, it must be believed in, and no one may invoke it as an argument against Allah. Indeed, the conclusive argument belongs to Allah. Whoever invokes divine decree to justify committing sins has a groundless argument, and whoever offers it as an excuse has an unacceptable excuse. Such people resemble those who said:

“If Allah had willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have associated partners with Him.”

And those who said:

“If the Most Merciful had willed, we would not have worshipped them.”

As Allah Most High says:

“Lest a soul should say, ‘Alas for my neglect of my duty towards Allah! I was indeed among those who mocked.’”

“Or say, ‘If only Allah had guided me, I would have been among the righteous.’”

As for the provision Allah has guaranteed His servants, He has guaranteed whoever fears Him that He will make a way out for him and provide for him from where he does not expect. As for someone who is not among those who fear Him, He has guaranteed him what befits him: He grants him the means to live in this world, then punishes him in the Hereafter. Thus He relates the words of His intimate friend:

“And provide its people with fruits—those among them who believe in Allah and the Last Day.”

Allah said:

“As for whoever disbelieves, I will grant him brief enjoyment, then compel him to the punishment of the Fire. What an evil destination!”