How can a believing, observant man be hard-hearted and unwilling to do good, while we find Christians characterized by great humanity and mercy, and what is the motive behind goodness of soul and heart—is it a divine gift, or does the wicked remain as they are? And how did Omar ibn al-Khattab transform from a cruel and wicked person to a just and merciful ruler after his conversion to Islam?

First: Everything is by divine decree, including good morals, to which Allah guides whom He wills. It can be a gift or a result of striving. Allah has ordained the causes of these morals; thus, the family and society play a role in shaping them. Nevertheless, a person with bad character is responsible for their ill character and is required to rectify themselves by adopting the means, such as performing prayer with full devotion, which prohibits indecency and evil. As for someone who prays but has bad character, their prayer is incomplete, but merely observing the prayer is better than not praying at all.

Second: The transformation of a person's soul for the better after embracing Islam is a reality, because Allah does not wrong people, and He guides those who love good and act upon it. True knowledge and strong faith prevent disobedience, as Allah Almighty says: ﴿Verily, the repentance accepted by Allah is only for those who commit evil in ignorance﴾. Disobedience stems from ignorance or weakness of faith.