The Attribute of Will
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The fifth question of Fatwa No. ( 17867 )
Q5: Allah the Exalted said:[Yunus 10:16] . Is the will of Allah eternal, or does it renew with the renewal of time? What is the ruling in Islam regarding delving into the verses of will, or are they to be taken at their apparent meaning? And is it to be taken from His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Kahf 18:29] , absolutely, that faith and disbelief are permissible, on the grounds that man is given a choice and is not compelled?
A5: The attribute of will for Allah the Exalted is an attribute of action, ancient in type but occurring in instances. The obligatory course regarding the verses of the attributes of Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He), whether of will or otherwise, is to let them pass as they came, without inquiring into their modality, while believing in their reality in a manner befitting Allah the Exalted, without denial of the divine attributes, comparing Allah to creation, figurative interpretation, or likening Allah to creation. As He, the Exalted, said:[Ash-Shuraa 42:11] . As for His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Kahf 18:29] ,
it is not a matter of giving a choice, but rather a matter of threat; for the path of faith and guidance has become clear, and the path of disbelief has become evident. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, punishes the one for whom the path of faith and guidance has become clear, yet he does not submit, so that He turns him away from His straight path. As He, the Exalted, said:[Al-A'raf 7:146] ; for this reason, He, the Exalted, said after His saying: [Al-Kahf 18:29] , threatening and warning: [Al-Kahf 18:29] the verse. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q5: Allah the Exalted said:
Say, "If Allah had willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you
قُلْ لَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا تَلَوْتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلاَ أَدْرَاكُمْ بِهِso whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve
فَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِنْ وَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْA5: The attribute of will for Allah the Exalted is an attribute of action, ancient in type but occurring in instances. The obligatory course regarding the verses of the attributes of Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He), whether of will or otherwise, is to let them pass as they came, without inquiring into their modality, while believing in their reality in a manner befitting Allah the Exalted, without denial of the divine attributes, comparing Allah to creation, figurative interpretation, or likening Allah to creation. As He, the Exalted, said:
There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُso whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve
فَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِنْ وَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْit is not a matter of giving a choice, but rather a matter of threat; for the path of faith and guidance has become clear, and the path of disbelief has become evident. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, punishes the one for whom the path of faith and guidance has become clear, yet he does not submit, so that He turns him away from His straight path. As He, the Exalted, said:
I will turn away from My signs those who are arrogant upon the earth without right; and if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. And if they see the way of consciousness, they will not adopt it as a way; but if they see the way of error, they will adopt it as a way. That is because they have denied Our signs and they were heedless of them.
سَأَصْرِفُ عَنْ آيَاتِيَ الَّذِينَ يَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَإِنْ يَرَوْا كُلَّ آيَةٍ لاَ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَا وَإِنْ يَرَوْا سَبِيلَ الرُّشْدِ لاَ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلا وَإِنْ يَرَوْا سَبِيلَ الْغَيِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلا ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُوا عَنْهَا غَافِلِينَso whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve
فَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِنْ وَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْIndeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them
إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمْ سُرَادِقُهَا
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.