or because the proof has not been established against him. He is like a child who occupies himself not with what benefits him, but with what causes him harm. Yet no sin is recorded against him until he reaches puberty. Once he reaches puberty, he is punished.

His habitual commission of evil deeds may then become a cause of his disobedience after puberty, yet he is punished only for his own sin. However, he deserves punishment in the usual sense only after the proof has been established against him. As for his engaging in evil deeds, this is punishment for his failure to perform good deeds.

Accordingly, evil is not attributable to Allah in any respect. Although Allah is the Creator of His servants’ deeds, His creation of acts of obedience is a blessing and a mercy. His creation of evil deeds involves wisdom and mercy and is, moreover, an act of justice on His part. He has not wronged people in the least; rather, people have wronged themselves.

Their wrongdoing against themselves is of two kinds: their failure to perform good deeds, which is not attributed to Him; and their commission of evil deeds, which He created as punishment for their neglect of the good deeds for which He created them and which He commanded them to perform. Thus every blessing from Him is grace, and every punishment from Him is justice.