The Concept of the Divine Will and Providence in Imam ReÃa (p.b.u.h.) Speeches

The speech and acts of the Infallibles (p.b.u.t.) contains the deepest knowledge of the universe. The current research attempts to assess one of the important Islamic Kal³mi issues, that is, the concept of the divine will and providence in Imam Reza’s (p.b.u.h.) speeches and the structural correlation visible in the narrations narrated of him. Using the self-evident principles in rational reasoning, Imam Reza (p.b.u.h.) talked about the creation of will and considered it as God’s act. He also proved that the divine will is neither the same as His Nature nor equal to His Knowledge. In some speeches in the discussions of divinity, by offering strong arguments, he closed any way to fallacy and heresy in the Kal³mi issues of religion, and, by offering the guidance-giving life-style of Ahl ul-Bayt (p.b.u.t.), prepared the way for the servants to God’s nearness.