The Response to Those Who Cite Divine Decree as an Excuse for Committing Sin

Question:
May Allah reward you. How should one respond to someone who, when he commits a sin, says, "This is the decree of Allah"?

Answer:
Yes, it is the decree of Allah, there is no doubt about that. But the One who decreed it has forbidden you from committing the sin, and you have the ability to leave it. So why do you cite the decree and leave [the obedience] and commit the sin? This is not permissible for you. The decree is not an excuse for you. The decree is not an excuse for you to commit a sin.
This is the method of Iblis. He said, "My Lord, because You led me astray." He did not attribute the leading astray to the decree of Allah, and he did not say, "I was led astray." He did not say, "I was led astray." He said, "You led me astray." This is compulsion. This is the doctrine of the Jabriyyah. The servant is not compelled to commit a sin. He is not compelled; he is the one who did it by his own choice, so he is held accountable for it. Yes, this should be known. This is a doubt that they spread. If citing the decree were permissible or a valid excuse, it would have been an excuse for Iblis: "My Lord, because You led me astray." And he did not say, "I was led astray" or "I sinned." Adam (peace be upon him) admitted [his fault] and attributed the sin to himself: "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers." So Adam admitted to his action and his error, and he repented to Allah, so Allah accepted his repentance. As for Iblis, may Allah protect us from him, he was arrogant and attributed this to Allah, and did not attribute it to himself. Yes.