What is the difference between the cosmic command and the legislative command?
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The questioner : A questioner asks: What is the difference between the cosmic command and the legislative command, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes. Good. Yes.
The questioner : He is asking about the difference between the command.
The Shaykh : The difference between the legislative command and the cosmic command.
First: The legislative command is what is requested of a person to do, such as the command to pray, the command to give zakah, the command to fast, and the command to perform Hajj. This legislative command may be carried out by a person, or it may not be carried out. Some people carry it out, and some do not.
The cosmic command is related to creation and formation. This is not requested of a person, for Allah is the One who is unique in it, and the cosmic command must occur; it must occur. So the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[Ya-Sin 36:82] Is this a cosmic command or a legislative one? It is cosmic, because [Ya-Sin 36:82] But the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): . This is a legislative command. And His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Isra 17:16] Did We command their arrogant ones with a cosmic command or a legislative one? Answer, everyone. It is a cosmic command, not a legislative one. And whoever among the scholars said that it is a legislative command has erred, because Allah said: [Al-Isra 17:16] meaning a cosmic command , because their open sinfulness was by the command of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, by the cosmic command of Allah, so the word became true against them. And the meaning is not that when Allah intends to destroy a people, to destroy a village, He sends messengers to them and commands them and forbids them until they commit open sinfulness, for this is contrary to wisdom. Rather, the meaning is that We commanded their arrogant ones with a cosmic command [Al-Isra 17:16]. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : So the difference now: the cosmic command is related to what Allah loves and what He does not love. Second: What must the cosmic command do? It must occur.
The legislative command is only in what Allah loves, and it may occur from the one commanded, or it may not occur. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes. Good. Yes.
The questioner : He is asking about the difference between the command.
The Shaykh : The difference between the legislative command and the cosmic command.
First: The legislative command is what is requested of a person to do, such as the command to pray, the command to give zakah, the command to fast, and the command to perform Hajj. This legislative command may be carried out by a person, or it may not be carried out. Some people carry it out, and some do not.
The cosmic command is related to creation and formation. This is not requested of a person, for Allah is the One who is unique in it, and the cosmic command must occur; it must occur. So the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, "Be," and it is.
إنما أمره إذا أراد شيئا أن يقول له كن فيكونthat He says to it, "Be," and it is.
أن يقول له كن فيكونWhatever I have commanded you, do of it what you are able
ما أمرتكم به فائتوا منه ما استطعتمAnd when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent but they defiantly disobey therein; so the word comes into effect upon it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction.
وإذا أردنا أن نهلك قرية أمرنا مترفيها ففسقوا فيها فحق عليها القول فدمرناها تدميراAnd when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent
إذا أردنا أن نهلك قرية أمرنا مترفيهاbut they committed open sinfulness therein
ففسقوا فيهاbut they defiantly disobey therein; so the word comes into effect upon it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction.
ففسقوا فيها فحق عليها القول فدمرناها تدميراThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : So the difference now: the cosmic command is related to what Allah loves and what He does not love. Second: What must the cosmic command do? It must occur.
The legislative command is only in what Allah loves, and it may occur from the one commanded, or it may not occur. Yes.