If you say: How did he say 'upon Allah is its provision' with the wording of obligation? [[Mahmoud said: 'If you say how did he say upon Allah is its provision with the wording of obligation ... etc.' Ahmad said: 'Everything that Allah, glorified and exalted is He, provides as sustenance for an animal or a responsible person in this world or reward in the Hereafter, all of that is grace and nothing is obligatory upon Allah, glorified and exalted is He. If such a formulation appears, it is understood that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, when He promised them His grace - and His promise is a report, and His report is true - the occurrence of what is promised is necessary: it is impossible in reason for it not to occur, due to the necessity of contradiction in the report of the truthful one. Thus, it was expressed in a manner similar to the obligation of duty, and there is this mentioned distinction between them. This is the principle of the people of truth. The discussion has already occurred regarding His saying: 'Indeed, repentance is upon Allah.' And Allah is the grantor of success.]] Is it not merely a favor? I say: It is a favor, but since He has guaranteed to bestow it upon them, the favor returns to being obligatory like the vows of the servants. And the 'settled place': is its place on earth and its dwelling. And the 'repository' is where it was deposited before settling, from the loins, or womb, or egg; each one of the animals and its provision and its settled place and its repository are in the Preserved Tablet, meaning it is mentioned and written therein clearly.