and members of His successful party and His victorious army. This is among the greatest distinctions by which Allah’s allies are distinguished from His enemies. Whoever the Lord, glorified and exalted is He, employs in what He loves and is pleased with, and who dies in that state, is among His allies. Whoever devotes his deeds to what the Lord hates and dislikes, and dies in that state, is among His enemies.

Thus, the “will pertaining to the created order” is His will concerning all that He creates. All created things fall within His will pertaining to the created order. His will pertaining to religion, however, entails His love and pleasure and encompasses what He has commanded and established as religious law and religion. This is confined to faith and righteous deeds. Allah Most High says:

“Whoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his heart to Islam; and whoever He wills to lead astray, He makes his heart tight and constricted, as though he were climbing into the sky.”

Noah, peace be upon him, said to his people:

“My advice will not benefit you, even if I wish to advise you, if Allah wills to lead you astray.”

Allah Most High says:

“When Allah wills harm for a people, none can avert it, and they have no protector besides Him.”

Concerning the second kind of will, Allah Most High says:

“Whoever is ill or on a journey must fast an equal number of other days. Allah intends ease for you and does not intend hardship for you.”

He says in the verse concerning purification:

“Allah does not intend to impose hardship upon you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favour upon you, so that you may be grateful.”

After mentioning which marriages He has permitted and which He has forbidden, He says:

“Allah intends to make things clear to you, guide you to the ways of those before you, and accept your repentance. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”

“Allah intends to accept your repentance, but those who follow their desires wish you to deviate far from the right path.”