Question No. 3330 2 November 2023 Official answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat) verified Content level: Intermediate

What Is the Difference Between God’s Will and His Decree?

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Dear questioner, Master Ali Saei

Tracking code: #Q-3330

Peace be upon you, dear teacher. Could you please explain the difference between God’s will and His decree? May God reward you.

Subject category: Theology and Creed Theology and creed

The essence and first answer at a glance (60-word summary)

Both mashīʾa (divine decree) and irāda (divine will) express divine knowledge: mashīʾa is its primary expression, while irāda is its secondary expression. Mashīʾa interprets knowledge, and irāda interprets mashīʾa. Mashīʾa is the “first willing,” and irāda the “second willing.” In Persian, both are translated as “willing,” but they have clear conceptual differences.

Answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat)

Teacher and researcher in the intellectual tradition of wisdom and the Ahl al-Bayt | Soroush Bamdadān Cultural Center

Divine volition and will are manifestations of divine knowledge: volition is its primary manifestation, and will its secondary one. Volition interprets knowledge, will interprets volition, and determination interprets will!

In the unfolding of divine knowledge, divine volition is its first manifestation and divine will its second.

In fact, volition is the first created thing and the mother of divine acts; will is the first act wrought by divine volition, and determination the first act wrought by divine will.

Because Persian lacks distinct equivalent terms for *mashiyyat* and *irādah*, both are commonly translated simply as “willing.” Yet the two clearly differ in meaning. In Persian translation, rendering *mashiyyat* as “primary willing” and *irādah* as “secondary willing” comes closer to their original, technical sense. Put another way, *mashiyyat* means “willing,” while *irādah* means “willing after willing”; or, *mashiyyat* is the “system of willing,” and *irādah* its “product.”

Volition is the core of knowledge, and will its fruit!

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What Is the Difference Between God’s Will and His Decree?

The essence and first answer at a glance (60-word summary)

Answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat)

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