so the father has conferred no greater religious favor upon the former than he has upon the latter.

Among their doctrines is that Allah wills what does not come to pass (1), while what He does not will comes to pass.

If it is said:

“Some of them maintain that Allah singles out certain people whom He knows would be guided if He granted them an additional measure of grace (2) from Himself (3), but otherwise would not be guided.”

The response is:

This is precisely the position of Ahl al-Sunnah, who affirm divine decree. They maintain that everyone whom Allah singles out for His guidance (4) becomes guided, while one whom He does not single out for it does not become guided. Thus, according to Ahl al-Sunnah, being singled out and attaining guidance necessarily accompany one another.

If it is said:

“Rather, He may single someone out for something that does not necessarily result in guidance, as Allah Most High says:

{Had Allah known any good in them, He would have made them hear; yet even if He had made them hear, they would have turned away in aversion.}

[Surah al-Anfāl: 23]”

The response is:

This kind of singling out is indeed real. However, the claim that there is no other kind of singling out is mistaken—as will be explained—for everything that necessarily results in guidance is a form of singling out] (5).

In sum, these people (6) do not affirm that Allah possesses a universal will or perfect power (7), nor that His creation encompasses every occurrence. They took this doctrine from the Mutazilah, who (8) are their authorities in this matter,