Understanding the Attribute of Allaah: Al-Iraadah and Al-Mashee’ah (Allaah’s Wills)

Al-Iraadah and al-Mashee’ah in the Noble Book,

 Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Baqarah (2:185):

يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ العسر

“Allaah Yurid (intends) ease for you, not hardship.”

and Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Baqarah (2:253):

وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا اقْتَتَلُوا وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ

“If Allaah Shaa’ (had willed), they would not have fought one another. But Allaah does what He wills.”

Note:

Allaah’s action (doing) is:

1- Either direct action which He does by His own Self, such as rising over the Throne, His Speech, His descent to the nearest heaven, etc. or
2- Whatever He decrees on His servants (indirectly), such as when one prays, fasts, etc. he has done these actions by Allaah’s Will (Iraadah).

In the Prophetic Sunnah:

Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “For every womb, Allaah appoints an angel who says: ‘O Lord! A drop of semen, O Lord! A clot. O Lord! A little lump of flesh.’ Then if Allaah wishes (to complete) its creation, the angel asks: ‘O Lord! Will it be a male or female, a wretched or a blessed, and how much will his provision be? And what will his age be?’ So all is written while the child is still in the mother’s womb.” [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari nos. 318, 6595, and Saheeh Muslim no. 2646]

Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Paradise and the Fire debated. Paradise said: ‘The weak and the poor shall enter me,’ and the Fire said: ‘The tyrants and the proud shall enter me.’ So Allaah said to the Fire: ‘You are My Punishment, I take vengeance through you from whom I Will,’ and He said to Paradise: ‘You are My Mercy, I show Mercy through you to whom I will, and each of you will be full.'”
[Saheeh Muslim no. 2846]

Shar’ee Meaning of Al-Iraadah wa Al-Mashee’ah:

From the principles of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah, is to affirm the general Mashee’ah (Will) of Allaah; whatever He Wills, takes places, and what He does not Will, does not take place.

Similarly, it is from their principles to affirm the Attribute of Iraadah (Will), which is of two types:

a) Al-Iraadah al-Kawniyyah al-Qadariyyah (Universal Will)

Nothing escapes this Iraadah – just like Mashee’ah. Both the disbeliever and the believer are alike under Iraadah Kawniyyah – hence, injustice, sins, provision, etc. everything falls under the Mashee’ah (Will) of Allaah and under al-Iraadah al- Kawniyyah.

Allaah mentions this Iraadah in His Saying in Surat Al-An’aam (6:125),

فَمَنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَهْدِيَهُ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ لِلْإِسْلَامِ ۖ وَمَنْ يُرِدْ أَنْ يُضِلَّهُ يَجْعَلْ صَدْرَهُ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجًا

“Whoever Allaah wills to guide, He opens their heart to Islam. But whoever He Wills to leave astray, He makes their chest tight.”

Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said in “Sharh Al-Aqeedah Al-Wasitiyyah” regarding Allaah’s Statement, ‘Whoever Allaah wills to guide, He opens their heart to Islam’: “Al-Iraadah that is meant in this verse is al-Iraadah al-Kawniyyah. Allaah wills the guidance of the slave to accept Islam and act upon it, so one sees this person’s breast is expanded for Islamic laws and legislations, and he does them with joy, happiness, and diligence. If one finds that in himself, then he has to know that Allaah willed good for him and willed guidance for him. And whoever finds his breast is constricted, we seek refuge in Allaah, this is a sign that Allaah did not will guidance for him.” [End quote]

Allaah (Ta’ala) also says in Surat Yaseen (36:82),

إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ

“His command is only when He intends a thing that He Says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.”

and His Saying in Surat Hud (11:107):

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِمَا يُرِيدُ

“Indeed, your Lord is the doer of what He intends.”

Al-Mashee’ah is synonymous to al-Iraadah al-Kawniyyah, which is executive, whether in matters which Allaah loves and is pleased with, and whatever He does not love. It is executive on all servants without distinction. It should occur in all states. Whatever Allaah Shaa’ (willed), inevitably occurs.

b) Al-Iraadah ash-Shar’iyyah ad-Deeniya (Legal Will)

This includes Allaah’s Love for what He intends, and His Pleasure with it. This Iraadah may not necessarily occur; rather, it may take place, or it may not take place. Allaah has intended His slaves to worship Him and to obey Him in accordance with al-Iraadah ash-Shar’iyyah, but there are those who obey Him and there are those who do not.

By this, we know that both the Iraadah (Kawniyyah and Shar’iyyah) are realized when the slave is obedient; whereas only Iraadah Kawniyyah is realized when the slave is disobedient – because Allaah did not want him to commit the sin by His Iraadah Shar’iyyah – rather He forbade it. Allaah mentions this Iraadah in His Saying in Surat An-Nisaa’ (4:27),

وَاللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ

“Allaah wants to accept your repentance.”

and His Saying in Surat Al-Baqarah (2:185),

يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ

“Allaah intends for you ease.”

[Sharh Al-Aqeedah Al-Wasitiyyah by Shaikh Ibn Baaz]

The Difference between Iraadah Kawniyyah and Iraadah Shar’iyyah

1. Allaah might love His Iraadah Kawniyyah and be pleased with it, and at times, He may not love His Iraadah Kawniyyah and not be pleased with it. But Allaah surely loves His Iraadah Shar’iyyah and He is Pleased with it. Allaah has Willed sins to occur; He has allowed some sins to occur on earth, but He is not pleased with it in accordance with His Iraadah Shar’iyyah.

2. Al-Iraadah al-Kawniyyah exists for the purpose of something apart from itself (i.e. it comprises great interests and benefits); like the creation of Iblees and all the evil. These occur so that there will be struggles against it, and there exists Tawbah (repentance), Istighfar (forgiveness), and other issues that are beloved to Allaah. However, the purpose behind al-Iraadah ash-Shar’iyyah is the act/ occurrence itself. Allaah Willed obedience as Iraadah Kawniyyah and Iraadah Shar’iyyah, and He loves it and is pleased with it.

3. Al-Iraadah al-Kawniyyah occurs without fail, whereas al-Iraadah ash-Shar’iyyah may not necessarily occur; it may take place and it may not take place. [Sharh Al-Wasitiyyah by Shaikh Al-Fawzan]

It is imperative “To believe that both Allaah’s Wills – Kawniyyah and Shar’iyyah – are according to Allaah’s Wisdom. Everything that occurs due to His Kawniyyah Will and everything that He is worshipped with is due to His Shar’iyyah Will. Both occur because of His Wisdom and in accordance with His Wisdom, regardless of whether we know the wisdom behind it or we don’t and regardless of whether our minds can comprehend it or not. Allaah (Ta’ala) Says in Surat Al-Insan (76:30):

وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا

“You do not will except that Allaah wills. Indeed, Allaah is Ever-Knowing and All-Wise.”

Allaah has attributed Ilm (Knowledge) and Hikmah (Wisdom) to His Noble Self. This proves that Allaah does not Will anything unless it is based on Ilm and Hikmah. [Sharh Aqeedah Ahlus-Sunnah, by Shaikh Ibn Uthaimeen]

There are two Impacts of Belief in Al-Iraadah (Will) of Allaah:

First: One should attach all his hopes and fears and all one’s states and actions to Allaah, because everything occurs by His Will and this fulfills the Tawakkul (putting trust in Allaah) and full reliance on Him.

Second: To perform what Allaah wants legally from us. If we know that Allaah willed a matter legally and it is beloved to Him, then this strengthens the resolution to perform it. [Sharh Al-Aqeedah Al-Wasitiyyah, by Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen]


Sources:

? At-Ta’aaleeq Al-Ulaa fee Sharh Asmaa’ Allaahu Al-Husna, by Maahir Muqaddim

? Sharh Al-Aqeedah Al-Wasitiyyah, by Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen


?