people among Ahl al-Sunnah, across all groups, oppose that view and hold that (1) the servant is truly the agent of his own act (2).

As for what he reported concerning (3) the denial of purpose—that is, wisdom—and the claim that Allah does not act for the welfare of His servants, we have already explained that this (4) is the view of only a few among them, such as al-Asharī. Another group agrees with him on one point, yet elsewhere they contradict themselves in what they say (5).

The majority of Ahl al-Sunnah affirm that there is wisdom in the acts of Allah, Most High, and that He acts for the benefit and welfare of His servants. However, they do not hold what the Muʿtazilites and those who agree with them maintain:

[that whatever is deemed good when done by Him is deemed good when done by His creatures, and whatever is deemed evil when done by His creatures is deemed evil when done by Him]

(6) Thus, they accept neither this position nor the other. [As for the term “purpose,” the Muʿtazilites and some who identify with Ahl al-Sunnah use it, (7) saying that He acts for a purpose—that is, for some wisdom. Many among Ahl al-Sunnah, however, say that “He acts” (8) for some wisdom, but they do not use the term “purpose”] (9).

As for his statement:

“And that He, Most High, wills sins from the unbeliever and does not will obedience from him,”

this is the view of a group among them, namely those who agree with the Qadarites, for they regard