may be knowledge or action. Being compelled to something may mean that it comes about without one’s choice, or that one needs it to come about. The term idtirār (compulsion) is originally derived from darar (harm). This term occurs in the Book of Allah Most High conveying this meaning, as He says:

“And whoever disbelieves—I will grant him enjoyment for a little while, then force him to the punishment of the Fire. What a wretched destination!” (126) [al-Baqarah 126]

He also says:

“But whoever is compelled by necessity, neither desiring it nor transgressing” [al-Baqarah 173]

The agent of “is compelled” is left unstated, because it is hunger that compels him—that is, makes him need it—and hunger is a harm. In the former passage, however, being compelled to punishment means being driven to it against one’s will, and the punishment itself is the harm. Thus, sometimes the harm lies in the cause that compels a person, and sometimes in the end to which he is compelled.

Yet because this term conveys the meaning of constraint, oppression, coercion, and similar notions involving an absence of choice, these scholars applied it to knowledge that arises without a person’s choice, even where no harm is involved. As for what occurs without his choice, sometimes he has no choice in it at all, while at other times he chooses it in one respect but not another, as with someone compelled to provide food. Accordingly, they call the first kind “necessary” without disagreement. Some also call the second kind “necessary,” while others do not, but instead call it “acquired”