Aslam

God says : If God willed, He would have guided all men aright - 1 3:30. Had I wished, I would have given every soul its guidance - 31 : 13. He who thinks that God does not will sins and evils as they are evils and that it is the devil who wills them is cursed.
Tell me how a Muslim can deny the supreme rule of God. If the power of a village chief is curtaited, he will think it dishonourable. He will think it derogatory to his position if actions are conducted according to the wishes of his enemy in the village. The result will be that many will be out of his control.
Now it is seen that evil deeds are predominant in men. If every sin is done against the will of God, God's helplessness is seen.
When it is established that all actions of men are creations of God, it follows that the evil actions are also the result of His will.

Question may be asked how God commands to do what He does not wish and how He prohibits what He wishes. In reply we shall say that command is one thing and will is another thing.
Thus if a master beats his salve, the ruler rebukes the master for beating his slave. The master shows reason that his slave does not obey him. As a proof he orders his slave to arrange the bridle of his horse before the ruler though he knows that the slave will not obey it. If he does not order him, his objection before the ruler does not stand and if he wishes that his order should be obeyed it amounts to his murder. It is impossible.

(4) Fourth basic principle. It is that God is generous in inflicting trouble on men by His commands. Neither creation, nor imposition of obligations is necessary for Him although the Mutazalites hold that they were necessary for the welfare of men.
But this is impossible since He is the only being to enjoin and prohibit. How will it be limited by compulsion? The object of compulsion is one of two things, such a work which if given up will cause harm in future as it is said that it is compulsory on men to obey God who will punish him in the hearafter by the fire of Hell: or it is to avoid such present harm which is injurious as it is said that to drinik water for a thirsty man is compulsory so that he may not die. Secondly it is such a work the negation of which seems impossible. Thus it is said that the existence of a thing which is known is necessary because if it does not exist, it becomes an impossibility. If it occurs, knowledge becomes ignorance.

Vol-I FOUNDATION OF BELIEF 115

(5 ) Fifth basic Principle. It is that God can inflict on man what is beyond his capacity. It were not possible, it would have been impossible for men to pray for removing it. The people prayed : O our Lord, lay not on us that for which we have no ' strength-2:246Q. This is against the belief of the Mutazalites.