A consequence of the dispute is this: if God's will refers only to faith and obedience, while many people act contrary to those commands, a gap appears between what is willed and what occurs. Sunni theologians see this as conflicting with the comprehensive scope of divine volition.
Muʿtazilī arguments emphasize command and moral approval, while Sunni replies emphasize the universal scope of will and power. Both recognize real distinctions in the debate, but assuming from the outset that will simply means command conceals the disagreement.
One must ask whether “God wills” denotes volition related to the event's occurrence or approval expressed through religious command. The question becomes intelligible only after those senses are separated.