and hatred of what he has heard. The Companions said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):

“One of us finds within himself thoughts that he would rather be burned to a cinder or fall from heaven to earth than utter.”

He asked, “Have you really experienced that?”

They replied, “Yes.”

He said, “That is clear faith.” In another narration, he said, “Praise be to Allah, who has reduced his plotting to mere whispering.”

When Satan cast blameworthy whispers into their hearts, the faith within them stirred in aversion to those thoughts and horror at their enormity. That was clear faith. This does not imply that the cause—those whispers—was something commanded. Likewise, a person may be prompted to disbelief or disobedience, yet seek protection and resist, thereby gaining faith and piety. The cause itself, however, is not something commanded.

Allah Most High said:

“Those to whom people said, ‘Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them.’ But this only increased them in faith, and they said, ‘Sufficient for us is Allah, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.’”

“So they returned with favor from Allah and bounty,” to the end of the verse.

This increase in faith and reliance on Allah arose from their being frightened with the prospect of facing the enemy, yet such intimidation is not prescribed. Indeed, a person may commit a sin that leads him to repent, and Allah loves him for that repentance; this does not mean that the sin was commanded. This is a very broad subject. Thus, a distinction must be drawn between the cause itself producing and entailing good, and