the righteous.” Likewise are those who said:

“If Allah had willed, neither we nor our forefathers would have associated partners with Him, nor would we have forbidden anything.”

Whoever invokes divine decree to justify the sins he has committed, while turning away from what Allah has commanded—repentance, seeking forgiveness, seeking Allah’s help and refuge, and asking Him for guidance—is among the greatest losers in this world and the Hereafter. This, then, is one benefit of mentioning the distinction alongside what they have in common.

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The third distinction: Allah multiplies a good deed and causes it to grow, and rewards the intention to perform it. He does not multiply an evil deed, nor does He hold a person accountable for intending it. Thus, He grants the doer of good a reward exceeding what he has done, whereas He recompenses the doer of evil only in proportion to his deed. Allah Most High says:

“Whoever comes with a good deed will receive ten times its like, and whoever comes with an evil deed will be recompensed only with its like, and they will not be wronged.”

The fourth distinction: A good deed is ascribed to Him because He has bestowed it as a favor in every respect, as explained previously. There is no aspect of it that does not warrant its being ascribed to Him.