Part 53

transl. 4/1396/no. 6416)]. (iii) To believe that everything in existence exists by the Will of Allaah, the Most High, whether it is those matters pertaining to His actions, or those matters pertaining to the actions of the creation. Concerning His own actions Allaah, the Most High, says, "And your Lord creates whatever He wills and chooses.' [surah al-Qasas (28):68] "And Allaah does whatever He wills." [surah Ibraaheem (14):27] "It is Allaah who fashions you in the wombs as He wills." [surah Aal 'Imraan (3):6] Allaah, the Most High, says, with regard to the actions of the created beings, "And if Allaah had willed He would have given them power over you and they would have fought you." [surah an-Nisaa (4):90] "And if Allaah had willed He would have kept them from doing that; so leave them and the falsehood which they invent." [surah al-An'aam (6): 137] (iv) To believe that everything in existence is created by Allaah, the Most High, both the things themselves and their attributes and their activities. Allaah, the Most High, says, "Allaah it is Who is the Creator of everything, and He is the Guardian over all things," [surah az-Zumar (39):62] (iv) To believe that everything in existence is created by Allaah, the Most High, both the things themselves and their attributes and their activities. Allaah, the Most High, says, "Allaah it is Who is the Creator of everything, and He is the Guardian over all things," [surah az-Zumar (39):62] "And Allaah created everything and gave everything its due and decreed measure." [surah al-Furqaan (25):2] He said about the Prophet of Allaah Ibraaheem, 'alayhis-salaam that he said to his people: "And Allaah created you and your handiwork." [surah as-Saafaat (37):96] Belief in pre-decree as we have described it does not negate the fact that the servant has will (mashee'ah) and ability (qudrah) in those actions where he has a choice. Rather both the sharee'ah texts and the reality that is witnessed affirm this for him. "So whoever wills shall act and prepare for the day when they return to their Lord." [surah an-Naba (78):39] "Enter your wives from any angle you wish." [surah al-Baqarah (2):223] "And fear Allaah and fear His punishment, by doing whatever He has obligated, avoiding sins, and doing deeds that will draw one closer to Him, as much as you are able." [surah at-Taghaabun (64): 16] "Allaah does not place a burden on any soul greater than that it can bear. It will receive the good that it has earned and is accountable for the evil it has committed." [surah al-Baqarah (2):286] In the reality that we witness, every person knows that he possesses will and ability, and through them is able to do or leave an action. Furthermore he knows that there is a difference between things that occur with his will, such as his walking along, and things that occur involuntarily, such as his trembling with fear. However the will and ability of the person exist by the Will and Ability/Power of Allaah, the Most High. Allaah, the Most High, says, "For whoever from the creation wishes to follow the truth; and you will not wish it unless Allaah, the Lord of all creation, wishes that for you." [surah at-Takweer (81):28-29] Because all of the creation is part of the Dominion of Allaah, the Most High and there is nothing within His Dominion that exists without His Knowledge and Will. Also belief in pre-decree as we have described it does not provide any excuse for a person to abandon obligatory duties, or to commit sins, using the plea that this was pre-decreed for him. Such an argument is futile from a number of angles: (i) The Saying of Allaah, the Most High, "Those who worship others along with Allaah will say: *H Allaah had willed us to believe and worship Him alone, then we would not have worshipped others along with Him, nor would our forefathers; nor would we ourselves have declared things forbidden. So the fact that He did not prevent us shows that He is pleased with what we do'. In the same way did the evildoers before them deny and reject the truth, until our punishment came upon them. Say to them, O Muhammad: Do you have any proof that you can produce that Allaah is pleased with that?!