ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the concept of divine freedom as considered in modern discourse, then provides a general review of this concept as developed in Islamic thinking. This is followed by an analysis showing that divine freedom in the Qur'ān is not only an essential attribute of Allah, but it is also constitutive of divine transcendence and the metaphysical distance, or écart, which defines it. God's freedom in the Qur'ān is also relevant to the determination of devotional behaviour and sacramental acts.
This chapter introduces the concept of divine freedom as considered in modern philosophical discourse, then provides a general review of how it developed in Islamic thinking. This is followed by an analysis showing that divine freedom in the Qur'ān is an essential attribute of Allah, and is constitutive of divine transcendence and the metaphysical distance, or écart, which defines transcendence. God's freedom in the Qur'ān is also relevant to the determination of devotional behaviour and sacramental acts.
