Will, Volition and Love from Asha'riah and Matridiah’s perspective: a critical study

Abstract

This article aims to address the issue of Will, Volition and Love from Asha'riah and Matridiah’s perspective, the difference between them and deciding Salaf’s doctrine on it. The study employs the inductive, deductive and analytical approach. It concludes that both Asha'riah and Matridiah see Will as an eternal attribute related to Allah’s Self, and His Knowing. Asha'riah and their followers see that Will requires Love and satisfaction, and that Allah wants and likes Kufr, due to not defining Legal and Global Will. However, Matridiah agree with Salaf that Will does not require Love of Kufr, because Allah does not want and like Kufr, and also not knowing the difference between both Wills. In fact, both Asha'riah and Matridiah mix between Will and Volition. Volition is global while Love is religious. Will is divided into two types, viz. Global Will, which is Volition, and religious Will, which is Love.