The Detailed Difference Between Cosmic Will (Irādah Kawniyyah) and Legislative Will (Irādah Sharʿiyyah) in Light of Qur’an and Sunnah
Reference: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
What is the difference between Irādah Kawniyyah (Cosmic Will) and Irādah Sharʿiyyah (Legislative Will)?
How many types of Divine Will are there?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
The Will of Allah ﷻ is of two types:
◈ This refers to Allah’s Mashīʾah (Divine Will).
◈ Whatever Allah decides by His Cosmic Will, it inevitably takes place.
Example:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿إِن كانَ اللَّهُ يُريدُ أَن يُغوِيَكُم﴾ (هود: ٣٤)
“If Allah intends to lead you astray...”
◈ Here, يُرِيدُ means Allah’s Mashīʾah (Will).
◈ It does not mean that Allah likes people to go astray, rather that if He wills, it can happen.
◈ This refers to Allah’s love and approval.
◈ The Divine commands sent for guiding mankind towards righteousness and success fall under this category.
Example:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَاللَّهُ يُريدُ أَن يَتوبَ عَلَيكُم﴾ (النساء: ٢٧)
“And Allah wants to turn to you in mercy.”
◈ Here, يُرِيدُ means يُحِبُّ (He loves, approves).
◈ Meaning: Allah loves that His servants repent and that He shows mercy to them.
✔ With Respect to Occurrence:
If someone says:
“Allah wills that people commit sins.”
The correct explanation is:
◈ It may be true in terms of Irādah Kawniyyah, since everything that happens in the heavens and the earth takes place by Allah’s Will.
◈ But it is not true in terms of Irādah Sharʿiyyah, since Allah does not love or approve of sin.
◈ Irādah Kawniyyah: Relates to the occurrence of a thing, whether Allah loves it or not.
◈ Irādah Sharʿiyyah: Relates to Allah’s love and approval of a thing, though it may or may not occur.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Reference: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
❖ Question
What is the difference between Irādah Kawniyyah (Cosmic Will) and Irādah Sharʿiyyah (Legislative Will)?
How many types of Divine Will are there?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
The Will of Allah ﷻ is of two types:
➊ Irādah Kawniyyah (Cosmic Will)
◈ This refers to Allah’s Mashīʾah (Divine Will).
◈ Whatever Allah decides by His Cosmic Will, it inevitably takes place.
Example:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿إِن كانَ اللَّهُ يُريدُ أَن يُغوِيَكُم﴾ (هود: ٣٤)
“If Allah intends to lead you astray...”
◈ Here, يُرِيدُ means Allah’s Mashīʾah (Will).
◈ It does not mean that Allah likes people to go astray, rather that if He wills, it can happen.
➋ Irādah Sharʿiyyah (Legislative Will)
◈ This refers to Allah’s love and approval.
◈ The Divine commands sent for guiding mankind towards righteousness and success fall under this category.
Example:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَاللَّهُ يُريدُ أَن يَتوبَ عَلَيكُم﴾ (النساء: ٢٧)
“And Allah wants to turn to you in mercy.”
◈ Here, يُرِيدُ means يُحِبُّ (He loves, approves).
◈ Meaning: Allah loves that His servants repent and that He shows mercy to them.
❖ Key Difference Between Irādah Kawniyyah and Irādah Sharʿiyyah
✔ With Respect to Occurrence:
- Irādah Kawniyyah: Whatever Allah wills must occur immediately.
As the Qur’an says:
﴿إِنَّما أَمرُهُ إِذا أَرادَ شَيـًٔا أَن يَقولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكونُ﴾ (يس: ٨٢)
“His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.” - Irādah Sharʿiyyah: What Allah loves or approves may not necessarily happen.
Sometimes, out of Divine wisdom, what Allah loves does not occur.
❖ Practical Illustration
If someone says:
“Allah wills that people commit sins.”
The correct explanation is:
◈ It may be true in terms of Irādah Kawniyyah, since everything that happens in the heavens and the earth takes place by Allah’s Will.
◈ But it is not true in terms of Irādah Sharʿiyyah, since Allah does not love or approve of sin.
❖ Summary
◈ Irādah Kawniyyah: Relates to the occurrence of a thing, whether Allah loves it or not.
◈ Irādah Sharʿiyyah: Relates to Allah’s love and approval of a thing, though it may or may not occur.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
