Another example is people’s disagreement over “command and will”: does Allah command what He does not will, or does He command only what He wills? The term “will” admits of more than one meaning. It may refer to His universal will, which encompasses all events, as in the Muslims’ saying, “Whatever Allah wills happens, and whatever He does not will does not happen.” Likewise, Allah Most High says:
“Whoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam; and whoever He wills to lead astray, He makes his breast tight and constricted, as though he were ascending into the sky.”
And Noah, peace be upon him, said:
“My advice will not benefit you, even if I wish to advise you, if Allah wills to lead you astray.”
There is no doubt that Allah commands His servants to do things He does not will in this sense. As Allah Most High says:
“Had We willed, We would have given every soul its guidance.”
This indicates that He has not given every soul its guidance, although He has commanded every soul to follow its guidance. Similarly, the scholars agree that if someone swears by Allah that he will repay his creditor tomorrow, if Allah wills; or return property entrusted to him or property he has wrongfully seized; or perform the noon or afternoon prayer, if Allah wills; or fast Ramadan, if Allah wills—or do some other thing Allah has commanded—then he does not break his oath if he fails to do what he swore to do, even though Allah commanded him to do it. This is because he said, “If Allah wills.” Thus, it is known that Allah did not will it, although He commanded it.
As for His legislative will, it means love and approval and is inseparable from His command. As Allah Most High says:
“Allah wills to make things clear to you, guide you to the ways of those before you, and turn to you in forgiveness.”
This is also the meaning intended when Muslims say of someone committing an indecency, “This person is doing something Allah does not will.” That is, He neither loves nor approves of it; rather, He forbids and dislikes it.
Likewise, the term “compulsion” admits of more than one meaning. It may mean forcing someone to act without