Most High and Most Holy moves whenever He wills something, and what He wills then comes to be.

The second sect, including Abū Mālik al-Hadramī, ‘Alī ibn Maytham, and their followers, claim that Allah Most High’s will is other than Him and that it is His motion, as Hishām said. However, they differ from him in claiming that the will is a motion distinct from Allah, by which He moves.

The third sect, who espouse Mu‘tazilism and the doctrine of the imamate, claim that Allah Most High’s will is not a motion. Some affirm that it is distinct from what is willed, saying that it is created by Allah Most High without an act of will. Others say that Allah Most High’s will to bring something into being is that thing itself, whereas His will concerning His servants’ actions is His command to them to act, which is distinct from their actions. They deny that Allah Most High willed acts of disobedience so that they came to be.

The fourth sect say: We do not say before an act occurs that Allah Most High has a will. When an act of obedience is performed, we say that He willed it; and when