that befell them as a result of what he ate. Hence, he said to him (1): “Why did you cause us and yourself (2) to be expelled from Paradise?”

The believer is commanded to have recourse to predestination when calamities strike, not in relation to sins and acts of disobedience (3). Thus, he patiently endures calamities and seeks forgiveness for sins, as Allah Most High says:

“So be patient. Indeed, Allah’s promise is true, and seek forgiveness for your sin.”

[Surah Ghāfir 55]

Allah Most High also says:

“No calamity befalls the earth or yourselves except that it is recorded in a Book before We bring it into being”—the verse.

[Surah al-Hadīd 22]

And He says:

“No calamity befalls except by Allah’s permission. Whoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart.”

[Surah al-Taghābun: 11]

Ibn Masʿūd [may Allah be pleased with him] (4) said: “This refers to a man who, when a calamity befalls him, knows that it is from Allah and therefore remains content and submits.”

And [for this reason], more than one of the early Muslims [and the Companions and those who followed them with excellence] said (5): “The true essence of faith is not attained (6) by a man (7) until he knows that whatever befell him could never have missed him, and whatever missed him could never have befallen him.”

Thus, belief in predestination, contentment with the calamities Allah has decreed, and submission to them are part of the essence (8) of faith. As for sins, no one may, as an excuse for them, invoke the decree of Allah