One group denied this and said: “He does not create people’s actions, nor does He will everything that occurs, because sins are reprehensible, and He does not do what is reprehensible. Willing them is reprehensible, and He does not will what is reprehensible.”

The other group recognized that He is the Creator of all this, yet did not believe that He created it for a wise purpose. Instead, they said: “If He creates this, then He may create every evil. He creates nothing for a wise purpose, and there is no act above which He is exalted. Rather, whatever is possible, He may do.”

They deemed it possible for Him to command every form of disbelief and disobedience, and to forbid all faith, obedience, truthfulness, and justice; to punish the prophets and grant bliss to the Pharaohs and the polytheists; and other such things. They made no distinction between one thing He creates and another. This is reprehensible speech and falsehood, just like the first view. Allah Most High says:

“Or do those who commit evil deeds think that We will make them like those who believe and do righteous deeds, equal in their life and their death? How evil is their judgment!”

And He Most High says:

“Shall We then treat the Muslims like the criminals?”

“What is the matter with you? How do you judge?”

And He Most High says:

“Or shall We treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like those who spread corruption on earth? Or shall We treat the righteous like the wicked?”

These and similar passages establish that He distinguishes between good deeds and evil deeds, and between the doer of good