Aslam

its own place. So heaviness and lightness are not subject to man's Will. Similarly the wilful acts of man are not subject to volition.
Similarly the acts of volition are not subject to the will of man. If a man takes a needle and shows it in order to pierce the eye of another, the latter will suddenly close his eyes, even though it is his action of will. So actions of will also occur according to the natural dictation of God's laws. The third kind of work in connection with power has got some controversy. Writing, walking, talking etc. are acts requiring strength. It is said of these actions that a man do these things if he wills and does not do them if he does not will. From this, the people understand that these are actions of volition but these are also in fact not subject to his will. The reasons are given below.

Will comes at the behest of intellect which says: This is an action profitable to you. All things are of two kinds - (1) One kind of things inform you openly or secretly that particular action is beneficial to you. (2) Another kind of things inform you after mature thoughts and efforts that a particular action is beneficial to you. The example of the first kind is that if anybody is about to throw needle in your eyes or to strike you with sword, you at once know that to remove it is beneficial to you. It is natural then that will rises with knowledge and power with will. You can then understand without any thinking that it will be beneficial to you to close your eyes. This knowledge raises will in your mind at once to close your eyes owing to will, and strength comes in your eyes to close them up. There are things however which require thinking and consideration whether it will be beneficial to you or not. If you think that it will be beneficial, then knowledge raises will which is the real will. Owing to will, there arises strength which produces an action and knowledge determines it. It determines which will be beneficial to you and which is right and which is wrong. So without the order of knowledge, will does not rise. That man is compelled to do an act means that the action comes from a foreign strength or power, and not from within himself. Action with power means that he is an object of will. It arises compulsorily at the order of knowledge or wisdom, as the action is good and beneficial. This order compulsorily arises in mind. Fire has got the strength of burning and fire compulsorily burns. So the action of fire is guided by an external agency, but God's action is the result of absolute will. Man's action lie between these two. It means that his action is not entirely guided

208 TAUHID AND TAWAKKAL Vol-IV