all things, whether He wills them or not. As the Most High says:

“Say, ‘He has power to send punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or to divide you into factions.’”

It is authentically reported in al-Sahīh that when the words of the Most High were revealed, “Say, ‘He has power to send punishment upon you from above you,’” the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, “I seek refuge in Your Face.” At “or from beneath your feet,” he said, “I seek refuge in Your Face.” At “or to divide you into factions and make you taste one another’s violence,” he said, “These two are less severe.”

They said: Allah thus has power to do both, although He does not will to do them. Indeed, Allah has assured this community, through its Prophet, that He will neither set against them an enemy from outside their ranks who would annihilate them, nor destroy them through a famine encompassing them all.

The Most High has also said:

“Does man think that We will not gather his bones? Yes indeed; We are able even to make his fingers level.”

Allah has power to do that, although He does not will it. The Most High has also said:

“Had We willed, We would have given every soul its guidance.”

And the Most High says:

“Had your Lord willed, He would have made mankind one community.”

Allah Most High has power to do that: had He willed it, He would have brought it about through His power, but He does not will it.

In another book, we have explained what he said in it, word by word, and clarified what is correct, what is mistaken, and what is ambiguous in its wording.