that the others lacked, while the others possessed knowledge that these lacked. Neither group fully comprehended what the Quran and Sunnah explain concerning these matters; rather, they knew some things and were ignorant of others. For these determinists do not, in reality, affirm justice, wisdom, mercy, or truthfulness for Allah, whereas the other group sought to affirm these matters. As for justice, the determinists regard every possible act as just, while injustice, in their view, is impossible. Thus, there is no justice that He intends to enact and no injustice that He intends to avoid.

For this reason, they hold that He may do anything, even if it is evil. They say, “Evil is whatever is forbidden, and there is none to forbid Him.” They also hold that He may command anything, even wrongdoing and associating partners with Him, and forbid anything, even worshipping Him alone and doing good. Thus, they recognize no criterion governing His actions.

For this reason, their opponents confronted them with the implication that He could cause miracles to appear at the hands of a liar, and they had no sound answer. They could offer neither a distinction between miracles and other phenomena nor a means of knowing the truthfulness of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, without contradicting their own principle. Allah Most High has said:

“Allah bears witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, as do the angels and those endowed with knowledge; He upholds justice.”

Yet, according to their position, this conveys nothing, for among possible acts there is no distinction between justice and injustice such that He would uphold the one rather than the other. This has been discussed at length elsewhere.

The same applies to “wisdom”: according to them, He does not act for a wise purpose. They have interpreted “wisdom” as either knowledge, power, or will. Yet it is well known that one who possesses power may be