“I have become subject to whatever You choose for me;
thus all my deeds are acts of obedience.”

It is well known that this contradicts what Allah sent His messengers with and revealed in His Books. For the disobedience that makes a person deserving of blame and punishment consists in opposing the command of Allah and His Messenger. As the Exalted says:

“These are the limits set by Allah. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, He will admit them into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to remain there forever. That is the great triumph.”

“And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits, He will admit him into a Fire, to remain there forever, and he will have a humiliating punishment.”

We shall explain the difference between the universal will and the religious will, and between the universal command and the religious command. This “question” had confused a group of Sufis, so al-Junayd—may Allah have mercy on him—clarified it for them. Whoever followed al-Junayd in this was on the right course, while whoever opposed him went astray. They had been discussing how all things occur through Allah’s will and power, and the witnessing of this oneness, which they call the “first unification.” Al-Junayd explained to them that one must also witness the “second distinction”: while witnessing that all things share in being subject to Allah’s will, power, and creation, one must distinguish between what He commands, loves, and is pleased with, and what He forbids, dislikes, and is displeased with. One must also distinguish between His allies and His enemies. As the Exalted says:

“Shall We then treat those who submit to Allah like the criminals?”

“What is the matter with you? How do you judge?”

And the Exalted says:

“Or shall We treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like those who spread corruption on earth? Or shall We treat the righteous like the wicked?”

And the Exalted says: “Or