The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 345
Divine Decree and Determination 345 conduct, God Almighty does not wrong anyone as is said: فَلَمَّا زَاغُوا أَزَاغَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ 136 So when they deviated from the right course, Allāh made their hearts perverse. At another place it is said: فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا 137 In their hearts was a disease, Allāh caused their disease to grow worse. That is to say God tried them and made their condition manifest. Then it is said: بَلْ طَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ 138 Allah set a seal on their hearts on account of their disbelief. This objection of compulsion can, however, be raised against your scriptures. In Exodus, 4:21, God said to Moses: I shall harden the heart of Pharaoh. If his heart was hardened its consequence was that he was condemned to hell. See Exodus 7:3; Proverbs 16:4; Exodus 10:3 and Deuteronomy 29:4 "Yet the Lord has not given you an heart of perceive and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day". Is this not a clear instance of compulsion? Then see Psalms 148:60: "He appointed a decree that cannot be 136 Al-Saff, 61:6 [Publisher] 137 Al-Baqarah, 2:11 [Publisher] 138 Al-Nisa', 4:156 [Publisher]