from Allah and his contentment with what Allah has allotted him. And part of the misery of the son of Adam is his failure to seek guidance from Allah and his discontent with what Allah allots him.”

As for “contentment with prohibited things”—disbelief, wickedness, and disobedience—most scholars say that contentment with them is not sanctioned, just as loving them is not sanctioned. For Allah, glorified is He, neither approves of them nor loves them, even though He has ordained and decreed them. As He, glorified is He, says:

“Allah does not love corruption.”

And He Most High says:

“He does not approve of disbelief for His servants.”

And He Most High says:

“He is with them when they plot by night to say what He does not approve of.”

Rather, He is displeased with them, as He Most High says:

“That is because they followed what angered Allah and disliked His good pleasure, so He rendered their deeds worthless.”

A group of scholars said that one should be content with them insofar as they are attributed to Allah as His creation, and displeased with them insofar as they are attributed to the servant as acts he performs and acquires. This view does not contradict the preceding one; rather, both rest upon a single principle. He, glorified is He, has only decreed things for a wise purpose. In view of that purpose, they are loved and approved of, although in themselves they may be disliked and disapproved of.

For a single thing may combine two qualities: it is loved on account of one and disliked on account of the other. As stated in the authentic hadith:

“I do not hesitate over anything I am to do as I hesitate over taking the soul of My believing servant. He dislikes death, and I dislike causing him distress, yet he must undergo it.”

As for one who advocates contentment with the decree, which is Allah’s attribute and act, but not with what is decreed, which