did not create them in vain, and that such is the supposition of those who disbelieve. He says:

“Did you think that We created you without purpose?”

He also says:

“Does man think that he will be left without responsibility?”

That is, left unattended, neither commanded nor forbidden. This rhetorical question rebukes anyone who considers such a thing possible for the Lord. Yet the Jahmiyyah who espouse absolute determinism consider it possible for Him. They do not declare Him above any act, even if it is reprehensible. Nor do they ascribe to Him what His generosity, mercy, wisdom, and justice necessarily entail, whereby it would be known that He does what befits these attributes and does not do what contradicts them. Rather, they consider it possible for anything within His power either to occur or not to occur. They affirm one of these alternatives with certainty only on the basis of a revealed report or an established pattern, despite their inconsistencies in reasoning from reports—the reports of the messengers—and from the Lord’s customary ways. This has been explained at length elsewhere, including in discussions of the prophets’ miracles, the sending of messengers, commands and prohibitions, the resurrection, and similar matters pertaining to His acts and decrees that proceed from His will.

For these proceed from His wisdom and His mercy, and His will necessarily entails both. He wills only with a will that encompasses wisdom. He is more merciful to His servants than a mother is to her child, as is established in the authentic hadith in which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah is indeed more merciful to His servants than a mother is to her child.”