whatever He wills comes to pass, and whatever He does not will does not come to pass.

As for the will expressed in His commands and His law, it is exemplified by His words:

“Allah does not intend to impose hardship upon you, but He intends to purify you”—to the end of the verse.

And His words:

“Allah only intends to remove impurity from you, O people of the household.”

And other similar passages. This is His will concerning what He has commanded, meaning that He loves it, approves of it, and rewards the one who does it—not that He wills to create it so that it comes into being, as in His words:

“Whomever Allah wills to guide, He opens his heart to Islam; and whomever He wills to lead astray, He makes his heart tight and constricted”—to the end of the verse.

And as Noah said:

“My advice will not benefit you, even if I wish to advise you, if Allah wills to lead you astray. He is your Lord, and to Him you will be returned.”

This is His will concerning what He creates and brings into being. As Muslims say: “Whatever Allah wills comes to pass, and whatever He does not will does not come to pass.” This will concerns everything that comes into existence, whereas His legislative will, expressed through His commands, concerns only acts of obedience. Thus people say of someone who does something evil, “He is doing something Allah does not will,” even while saying, “Whatever Allah wills comes to pass, and whatever He does not will does not come to pass.” For this will is of “two kinds,” as has been explained at length elsewhere.

Guidance may also mean inward inspiration, and the address may be directed to the obedient believers whom