and in prescribing it for Himself. Thus, in prescribing mercy for Himself, making the support of His believing servants incumbent upon Himself, and other such acts, He bestows kindness upon kindness.

Let the discerning reader reflect on these distinctions, which make clear the decisive answer in matters that have occasioned such great confusion. Some impose obligations upon their Lord in a way that denies His kindness and bounty; others equate His justice and kindness with the injustice and aggression from which He is utterly free, treating them all as one category. All of this is a departure from the straight path. Allah speaks the truth and guides to the way.

Just as He has explained that He shows kindness in granting good deeds, completing His kindness by recording them and rewarding them, He has also explained that He is just in recompensing evil deeds. He said:

“Whoever finds otherwise, let him blame no one but himself.”

This has already been explained in connection with such statements of His as:

“We did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves.”

Upon this principle rests the revealed Law, which accords with the natural disposition upon which Allah created mankind. Thus, in the authentic hadith narrated by al-Bukhārī from Shaddād ibn Aws, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The foremost supplication for forgiveness is for a servant to say: ‘O Allah, You are my Lord; none has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me, and I am Your servant. I abide by Your covenant and promise to the best of my ability. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge before You Your blessings upon me, and I acknowledge my sin. So forgive me, for none forgives sins but You.’”

His words, “I acknowledge before You Your blessings upon me,” acknowledge Allah’s favor upon him in his good deeds and in other matters. And his words, “I acknowledge my sin,”