Someone asked me, “Why does Allaah not create us perfect and free of sin? Why does He test and afflict us, and then punish us if we do not believe? Even if we believed, He will inevitably punish us as a result of our sins as He The Almighty Says (what means): {And there is none of you except he will come to it.} [Quran 19:71] This is also because all humans are prone to err.” Please help me to refute this malicious allegation.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The conclusion stated in the question is invalid because it was based upon incorrect premises. Anything that is founded upon something that is invalid is also invalid. This is explained in the following points:

1- Disbelief, disobedience, sins and the consequent punishment occur because the person disobeyed the commands of Allaah The Almighty and failed to avoid what He prohibited. This is not related to man’s creation and existence, for Allaah The Exalted created man with hearing, sight and power. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Has there [not] come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing [even] mentioned? Indeed, We created man from a sperm-drop mixture that We may try him; and We made him hearing and seeing. Indeed, We guided him to the way, be he grateful or be he ungrateful} [Quran 76:1-3]. Allaah The Almighty created man and guided and directed him to the right way. He showed him the two paths: that of good and that of evil - and gave him the option to choose. Could there be any veneration for man better than this? Could there be any respect for humanity better than this? If we were to ask the majority of people whether they would like to be compelled without any will or ability to choose or to be free with the power of will and choice, they would inevitably choose the latter. If this is so, then every person should bear the responsibility of his behavior and the responsibility of his sins after Allaah The Almighty created him in the most perfect manner. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {What comes to you of good is from Allaah, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself.} [Quran 4:79]

Any goodness that comes to man in this life and in the Hereafter is purely by the favor of Allaah The Almighty. Every evil that afflicts man in this life and in the Hereafter is from himself, because he has been given the power to act and to choose to determine the motive behind this act, whether to thwart evil or to bring about a benefit.

2- There is decisive proof that the heavens and the earth and man were created in accordance with the Wisdom, Knowledge and Decree of Allaah The Almighty Who Says (what means):

· {Say, "Do you indeed disbelieve in He who created the earth in two days, and attribute to Him equals? That is the Lord of the worlds."And He placed on the earth firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its [creatures’] sustenance in four days without distinction - for [the information] of those who ask...That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.} [Quran 41:9-12]

· {The creation of the heavens and earth is greater than the creation of mankind, but most of the people do not know.} [Quran 40:57]

If a believer has a certain belief in the Wisdom of the Creator, in His encompassing Knowledge and infinite Might, he must act in accordance with this belief in everything that Allaah The Almighty creates or describes, in everything that He commands or imposes, and in everything that He forbids or makes unlawful. If the human mind is unable to realize the wisdom behind a certain point or matter, this should not be taken as a justification for breaching this decisive proof. Allaah The Almighty created His creation in this form with great wisdom, some of which is apparent to us while the rest is not. The angels asked this question before we did. They received a decisive answer after which we should be certain about the wisdom of Allaah The Almighty and be assured about His Decree.

Allaah The Almighty Says about the angels (what means): {They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allaah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."} [Quran 2:30]

If the angels did not know the wisdom, it is logical that others will also not know it. Moreover, it is not logical that man, who has limited knowledge and is restricted by the boundaries of time and place becomes acquainted with the Absolute, who has infinite knowledge and power (i.e., Allaah The Almighty), nor is it possible that He withholds or delays His decree. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And Allaah judges; none reverses His judgment.} [Quran 13:41]

3- This invalid allegation originates from making an analogy between the Creator and the created, and from the assumption that it is obligatory upon Allaah The Almighty to do such and such an act. This kind of analogy is the origin of every wrongdoing and the source of every form of corruption. The Creator is different from the created and the Lord is different from the slave, so how could it be said to Him, “Do that,” or, “Do not do this?” This is refuted and renounced in the Quran. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

· {He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned} [Quran 21:23]

· {And to Allaah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And ever is Allaah Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 48:14] The Mighty Possessor has the right to do in His dominion whatever He wills.

We have previously stated that all His actions are wise, fair and merciful; hence, objecting to His creation and decree is a type of insanity.

4- This point corrects the misunderstanding of the Saying of Allaah The Almighty (what means): {And there is none of you except he will come to it (Hell). This is upon your Lord inevitability decreed.} [Quran 19:71] ‘Coming to Hell’ does not mean residing in it or that the pious will be afflicted by its punishment and intense heat; it rather means that they will pass over the bridge on it or that they will actually come to it but will be saved from its punishment by the might of Allaah The Almighty. In both cases, Allaah The Almighty, the Most Truthful, Says (what means): {Then We will save those who feared Allaah.} [Quran 19:72]

This means that He will make Hell for them a place of coolness and peace, as He did with the fire for Prophet Ibraaheem (Abraham) in the worldly life. Whoever Allaah The Almighty guarantees that he will be kept away from Hell can never be harmed by coming to it. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, those for whom the best [reward] has preceded from Us - they are from it far removed. They will not hear its sound…} [Quran 21:101-102] Therefore, it is clear that taking this verse as proof – as mentioned in the question- that everyone will inevitably be punished is incorrect.

Concerning the Hadeeth - all humans err and the best among those who err are those who constantly repent – then it is true. However, it does not entail that every one who commits a sin will be punished. The mercy of Allaah The Almighty encompasses everything, and He loves a person who repents from his sin. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

· {Indeed, Allaah loves those who are constantly repentant.} [Quran 2:222]

· {And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allaah will find Allaah Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 4:110]