al-Mu’minūn: 18]

And He, Most High, said:

“Say: He has power to send a punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or to divide you into factions and make some of you taste the violence of others.”

[Surah al-An‘ām: 65]

It is established in the two Sahih collections that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “When the words of Allah, Most High, were revealed:

‘Say: He has power to send a punishment upon you from above you,’

he said, ‘I seek refuge in Your Face.’

‘Or from beneath your feet,’

he said, ‘I seek refuge in Your Face.’

‘Or to divide you into factions and make some of you taste the violence of others,’

he said, ‘These two are less severe.’” (1)

The same is indicated by His words, Most High:

“Had We willed, We would have given every soul its guidance.”

[Surah al-Sajdah: 13]

“Had your Lord willed, He would have made mankind one community.”

[Surah Hūd: 118]

“Had Allah willed, they would not have fought one another.”

[Surah al-Baqarah: 253]

“If We will, We can cause the earth to swallow them or cause fragments of the sky to fall upon them.”

[Surah Saba’: 9] (2)

There are many similar passages in which Allah, Most High, states that He would have done something had He willed. His stating that He would have done these things had He willed necessarily means that they are possible and within His power.

People have disagreed concerning what is contrary to that which is known: is it possible and within His power, such as the faith of