through His declaration (1), then he has misrepresented Ahl al-Sunnah. If, however, what he means is that He did not establish it as a right (2), in the sense that He did not (3) make it incumbent upon Himself and prescribe it for Himself as a right binding upon Him, then there is a dispute over this, as [has] (4) already been discussed.

Once He has promised the reward—or, in addition to that, made the reward incumbent upon Himself—it is impossible for Him to act contrary to His declaration, contrary to the decree He has prescribed for Himself, or contrary to what His Most Beautiful Names and Most Exalted Attributes necessarily entail.

Yet if it were hypothetically assumed that He punished whomever He willed, no one could prevent Him, as the Exalted says:

“Say, ‘Who could prevent Allah in any way if He intended to destroy the Messiah, son of Mary, his mother, and everyone on earth?’”

[Surah al-Mā'idah: 17].

Were He—glorified is He—to scrutinize any of His creatures in the Reckoning, He would punish him, as is authentically reported from Aisha—may Allah be pleased with her—that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said:

“Whoever is scrutinized in the Reckoning will be punished.”

She said: “I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, does Allah not say:

“As for the one who is given his record in his right hand, he will be called to account with an easy reckoning”

[Surah al-Inshiqāq: 7–8]?’”

He replied (5): “That is the presentation; whoever is scrutinized in the Reckoning will be punished.” (6)