concerning this, by way of praise:
When I threaten him or promise him, I break my threat and fulfill my promise.
In the sound report it has come: “Nothing is more beloved to God than being praised.” Praise for overlooking the evildoer is the utmost praise, so God Most High is more entitled to it. Truthfulness in promises is praiseworthy. He, exalted is He, said, “Do not suppose God will break His promise to His messengers.” He mentioned the promise, then reported the threat in the verse’s completion: “God is Mighty, Possessor of Vengeance” [Ibrahim 14:47].
Concerning the threat He spoke of willing; concerning the promise, its inevitable fulfillment. He did not make it conditional upon willing for the doer of good, but for the evildoer He made forgiveness and punishment conditional upon willing. One relies upon God’s promise, which appears only through the existence of what was promised, though it has not yet come to exist. Reliance upon it is indispensable, through what shared linguistic usage gives and the truthfulness of the divine report established by proof. “God is as His servant thinks of Him, so let him think well of Him.”
(Supposition between Knowledge and Preponderance)
Supposition here should be construed as knowledge, as in His saying, “Upon the three who were left behind ... and they thought there was no refuge from God except in Him” [al-Tawbah 9:118], meaning they knew and were certain. The people of the language said, “I told them: Reckon upon two thousand fully armed men,” meaning be certain and know.
