in truth. And indeed, the Hour is coming, so pardon graciously.”

“Indeed, your Lord is the All-Creating, the All-Knowing.”

Some people think that His words, “He is the All-Creating,” indicate that He creates His servants’ deeds, and that one should therefore not be severe in condemning them, but rather pardon them graciously on account of divine decree. This is among the greatest forms of ignorance. For He, glory be to Him, has punished those who oppose Him and His messengers, has been angry with them, has commanded that they be punished, and has prepared for them a punishment that contradicts the claims of these people who nullify His commands and prohibitions, His promises and threats.

His words, “So pardon graciously,” are connected to what precedes them, namely:

“And indeed, the Hour is coming, so pardon graciously.”

For they have an appointed time at which they will be recompensed, as He, Most High, says in similar passages:

“Your duty is only to convey the message, and Ours is to call them to account.”

“So remind them; you are only a reminder. You are not a controller over them. But whoever turns away and disbelieves—Allah will punish him with the greatest punishment. Indeed, to Us is their return. Then it is for Us to call them to account.”

And His words:

“So turn away from them for a time.”

And His words:

“So pardon them and say, ‘Peace.’ They will come to know.”

Allah has never excused anyone on the grounds of divine decree. Had He accepted it as an excuse, His prophets and His close servants would have been more entitled to it. Adam only prevailed over Moses in argument because Moses blamed him for the calamity that befell his descendants, saying to him, “Why did you cause us and yourself to be expelled from Paradise?”

Whatever calamities befall a servant, he must submit to Allah concerning them and know that they have been decreed for him, as He says