And (the third) is disbelief, wickedness, and disobedience: one is not commanded to be content with these, but rather to hate and disapprove of them, for Allah neither loves nor approves of them. As He Most High says:

“When they plot by night to say what He does not approve of.”

And He says:

“Allah does not love corruption.”

And He says:

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

And He says:

“Indeed, Allah does not love the disbelievers.”

And He says:

“Indeed, Allah does not love the transgressors.”

Although He created it for a wise purpose, nothing precludes His creating what He does not love because it leads to a wise end that He loves, just as He created the devils. We are therefore content with Allah in His creating whatever He wills, and He is praised for that. As for the blameworthy act itself and the person who performs it, we neither approve of nor praise either.

There is a difference between what is loved for its own sake and what is willed because it leads to something loved, even though it is hated in another respect. The same thing may be willed in one respect and disliked in another. Consider a sick person who takes unpleasant medicine: he hates and dislikes the medicine, yet he wishes to take it because it leads to what he loves, not because the medicine itself is loved.

In the authentic hadith, Allah Most High says:

“I have never hesitated 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.”

Thus, since He, glorified be He, dislikes causing distress to His believing servant, who