said—N, M read: “said”—in the Mother of the Quran:

“Guide us to the straight path—the path of those whom You have blessed, not of those who have incurred wrath, nor of those who have gone astray.”

[Surah al-Fātiha: 6, 7]

Thus He stated that He is the One who bestows the blessing, omitted the agent of wrath, and attributed straying to them. The Intimate Friend [peace be upon him] (1) said:

“And when I fall ill, He is the One who heals me.”

[Surah al-Shu‘arā’: 80]

This is also why Allah has the Most Beautiful Names: He named (2) Himself with the Most Beautiful Names, which entail goodness.

Evil, however, is mentioned only in created effects, as in His statement:

“Know that Allah is severe in punishment and that Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

[Surah al-Mā’ida: 98] (3)

And His statement at the end of Surah (4) al-An‘ām:

“Indeed, your Lord is swift in punishment, and He is indeed All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

[Surah al-An‘ām: 165]

(* And His statement in al-A‘rāf: (5)

“Indeed, your Lord is swift in punishment, and He is indeed All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

[Surah al-A‘rāf: 167]. *) (6)

And His statement:

“Tell My servants that I alone am the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful, and that My punishment is indeed the painful punishment.”

[Surah al-Hijr: 49, 50]

And His statement:

“Hā Mīm. The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Almighty, the All-Knowing—the Forgiver of sin, Accepter of repentance, severe in punishment, and Possessor of bounty. There is no deity except Him.”

[Surah Ghāfir: 13].

This is because, in the things He creates that contain evil (7) relative to some people,