but a span; then the Book takes precedence over him, and he performs the deeds of the people of the Fire and enters the Fire.’
He said the same concerning the people of the Garden. Then he said, ‘Deeds are only according to their endings,’ and these are under the ruling of what preceded. God therefore decrees no decree except what the Book has previously established that He should decree. His knowledge concerning things is identical to His utterance in His bringing into being, and the word is not changed with Him. Neither Creator nor creature has any ruling except according to what the divine Book has previously established.
For this reason He said, ﴿And I am not unjust to the servants﴾ [Qāf 50:29]. We bring upon them only what knowledge has previously established, and I judge them only according to what it has previously established. This is the standing place of Equality in which the servant is made to stand.
If the Real's knowledge rules over the Real,
Then all the more over His creation: let him not presume to rule.
He is not possessed of choice if the matter is thus;
Each is surrendered to the Book's precedence.
Fear is only of a Book whose
Suras, verses, and stars concerning us have preceded.
If He possessed choice, His being
Kind, merciful, and most merciful to the servants would give us safety.
In glad tidings He told of His mercy, which
Possesses the noble precedence given priority
