Consider this by supposing that someone other than Allah were the one who punished him for his wrongdoing. If(1) a ruler punished him for his aggression against people and cut off(2) the thief’s hand, would that not be justice(3) on the part of this ruler? The fact that the ruler is commanded to do so demonstrates(4) that he is just.

The point here, however, is that it is firmly established in people’s innate dispositions and minds that when a ruler orders a usurper to return the usurped property to its owner and holds him liable to replace destroyed property with its equivalent, he is ruling justly. Justice has always been recognized as such by hearts and minds.

If the person being punished were to say, “This was decreed for me,” this(5) would neither constitute a valid argument for him nor prevent the ruler’s judgment from being just.

Thus, when Allah Most High—the most just of all who are just—exacts retribution(6) for the wronged against the wrongdoer in the Hereafter, it is all the more fitting that this be justice on His part. If(7) the wrongdoer were to say, “This was decreed for me,” that would neither be a valid excuse nor annul the right of the wronged. If Allah is the Creator of everything, that(8) is for another wise purpose of His in the act. His creating it is good with respect to Him because of the wisdom [He has](9) therein, whereas the created evil act is evil on the part of its doer(10), because of what he incurs