The Particular Will (al-irāda al-juz’iyya): Excavations regarding a latecomer in kalām terminology on human agency and its position in Naqshbandi discourse (original) (raw)

This study explores the concept of the "particular will" (al-irāda al-juz’iyya) as articulated by contemporary Turkish Sufi scholar Fethullah Gülen and its historical roots within the Ottoman Naqshbandi tradition. By investigating its emergence and usage across Islamic literature spanning kalām, law, and Sufism, the research highlights the concept's significance and resilience beyond specific Sufi affiliations, focusing on the role of key figures like Muḥammad al-Birkawī and their influence in shaping contemporary discourse on human agency in Islam. The findings accentuate the broader implications of the notion within Turkish Islam, illustrating how it reflects enduring traditional beliefs in the context of modernity.