by Allah’s permission.”

Allah Most High also says:

“Whatever palm trees you cut down or left standing on their roots, it was by Allah’s permission.”

As for “decree,” He says concerning the decree pertaining to the created order:

“He completed them as seven heavens in two days.”

He, glorified be He, also says:

“When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.”

Concerning the decree pertaining to religion, He says:

“Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him.”

That is, He has commanded this. It does not mean that He has predestined it, for others besides Him have indeed been worshipped, as He has stated in several places. For example, Allah Most High says:

“They worship besides Allah what can neither harm nor benefit them, and they say, ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.’”

And His intimate friend, peace be upon him, said to his people:

“Have you considered what you have been worshipping—you and your forefathers? They are enemies to me, except the Lord of all worlds.”

Allah Most High also says:

“You have an excellent example in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, ‘We disassociate ourselves from you and from whatever you worship besides Allah. We reject you, and enmity and hatred have arisen between us and you forever, until you believe in Allah alone’—except for Abraham’s words to his father, ‘I will certainly ask forgiveness for you, though I can do nothing to protect you from Allah.’”

Allah Most High also says:

“Say, ‘O disbelievers! I do not worship what you worship, nor do you worship what I worship. Nor am I a worshipper of what you have worshipped, nor do you worship what I worship. You have your religion, and I have mine.’”

This statement entails his disassociation from their religion; it does not entail his approval of it. Likewise, Allah Most High says in another verse:

“If they deny you, say, ‘I have my deeds, and you have yours. You are free of responsibility for what I do, and I am free of responsibility for what you do.’”