The Semantics of Free Will and attributing it to God in Islamic Mysticism

Using an analytical-descriptive approach, this paper seeks to analyze the meaning of free will and attributing it to God in Islamic mysticism. Muslim mystics have expressed various applications for "free will". Their passages imply that they have used this term both for God and man in homonym way. While considering the internal evidences and some other mystic's expressions, the author attempts to turn the different meanings into a single meaning and provide a comprehensive concept. Their passages also reveal that, "free will" with wonder and doubt cannot be applied to God. Focusing on their expressions, this paper seeks to justify the attribution of free will along with doubt to the Almighty God with regard to other validities, and resolve the primitive conflicts of their expressions.