Chapter on Wish and Will

“I heard abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) saying, ‘There can nothing until Allah would wish it to be, will, measure and decree.” I asked what is the meaning of wish (Sha’a)? The Imam replied, “It is to begin the act.” I asked, “What is the meaning of measure (Qaddara)? The Imam replied, “It is measuring the length and the width of something.” I asked what is the meaning of decree (Qada)? The Imam replied, “When He decrees He lets it happen and this is when it becomes unavoidable to happen.”

“asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about, “(Allah) Wished, Willed, Measured and Decreed.” The Imam said, “Yes.” I asked, “Did He love?” The Imam said, “No.” I asked, “How is it that He wished, willed measured and decreed but did not love?” The Imam said, “This is how it has come to us.”

“I heared Imam Abi ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, “Allah commanded but did not want. He wanted but did not command. He commanded Satan to prostrate but He did not want it. If He wanted Satan would have prostrated. He prohibited Adam from eating of the tree and wanted him to eat. Had He not wanted he would not have ate.”

“Allah has two wills and two wishes. He has a definite will and an intended will. He prohibits but He wants it. He commands but He does not want it. Consider that He prohibited Adam and his spouse from eating of the tree but He wanted them to eat. Had He not wanted their wish would not have surpassed Allah’s wish. He commanded Ibrahim to slaughter Ishaq but He did not want it to happen. Had He wanted it the wish of Ibrahim would not have surpassed the wish of Allah, the Most High.”

“I heard Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, ‘He wanted and willed and did not love and did not agree. He wanted something nor to happen except in His knowledge and He willed in the same way but He did not love it to be said, “The third of the three and He did not agree that His servants become unbelievers.”

“Allah said, ‘O son of Adam through My wish you came into existence and it is you who wish for yourself whatever you wish. Through My power you fulfill your obligations and through My bounties you receive strength to disobey Me. I made you to hear and see and be strong. Whatever good you receive is from Allah and whatever evil afflicts you is from your own self. It is because I deserve credit in your good deeds and you are held accountable for your bad deeds. This is because I am not asked what I do but they are held accountable for what they do.”