Allah Most High has no need of His servants. He commands them only to do what benefits them and forbids them only what harms them. Thus, He is beneficent to His servants by commanding them, and beneficent(1) to them by helping them obey. Suppose that a righteous scholar commanded people to do what benefited them, then helped some of them(2) carry out his command but did not help others. He would have shown the former complete beneficence and would not have wronged those to whom he had shown no such beneficence. If, moreover, he punished a sinner(3) with the punishment demanded by his justice and wisdom(4), he would [also] be praiseworthy for both actions. How, then, can this compare with the wisdom of [the Wisest of judges] and the Most Merciful of those who show mercy(5)?!

His command(6) to them provides guidance, instruction, and knowledge(7) of what is good. If He helps them carry out what they have been commanded, He has completed His favor upon the one commanded, and He is thanked for both His command and His help. But if He does not help a person and forsakes him until he commits sin, He has another wise purpose in doing so, even though it entails that person’s suffering. That person suffers only through his own voluntary acts, which by their nature bring him either bliss or pain. Although their producing these effects occurs by Allah’s decree and predestination, there is no conflict between the two. His making the choosing agent(8) capable of choice is part of the perfection of His power and wisdom, and His making the consequences of that choice fall upon him is part of the completeness of His wisdom and power.