Is man's life predestined or does man have a free will?
هل الإنسان مسير أم مخير؟
Man is driven in some things and he has a freedom of choice in others. Understanding this balance is key to understanding Allah's ultimate justice and human accountability.
إن الإنسان مسير في أشياء ومخير في أشياء أخرى. إن فهم هذا التوازن هو مفتاح لفهم عدل الله المطلق ومسؤولية الإنسان.
The Balance of Destiny and Choice | التوازن بين القضاء والاختيار
1. Matters of Predestination (Driven)
We are not given a choice of being born nor dying, and we cannot choose who our fathers, mothers and relatives are, so in those matters our life is predestined.
1. الأمور المسير فيها
فنحن مجبرون على الولادة والموت، مجبرون غير مختارين فيمن هم اباؤنا وامهاتنا واقاربنا.
2. Matters of Free Will (Choice)
However, we have a free will to choose to pray or not to pray, and to believe or disbelieve. Well, if Allah wants us all to believe, He has the ability to do so, but Allah has created man's reason and let him choose and be held accountable afterwards.
2. الأمور المخير فيها
بينما نحن مخيرين في أن نصلي او لا نصلي، نؤمن اونكفر، ولو أراد الله أن نؤمن جميعا فله القدرة على ذلك، ولكن الله خلق للإنسان العقل وتركه يختار ويحاسب بعد ذلك.
Quranic Evidence
This balance is reflected in the following Ayahs:
(But you cannot will to do so, except by the Will of Allah, the Lord of all worlds.) [At-Takwir 81: 29]
(No calamity or blessing occurs on earth or in yourselves without being written in a Record before We bring it into being. This is certainly easy for Allah.) [Al-Hadid 57: 22]
(Whatever affliction befalls you is because of what your own hands have committed. And He pardons much.) [Ash-Shura 42: 30]
الدليل القرآني
وهذا هو معنى قوله تعالى:
(وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّـهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ) [التكوير 81: 29]
(مَا أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّبْرَأَهَا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّـهِ يَسِيرٌ) [الحديد 57: 22]
(وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ) [الشورى 42: 30]
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Is a person completely predestined or completely free?
A person is neither completely predestined nor completely free. Man is driven in certain aspects of life and has the freedom of choice in others.
What are examples of things in life that are predestined?
Examples of predestined matters include the time of our birth and death, as well as who our parents and relatives are. We are not given a choice in these matters.
Why did Allah give humans free will?
Allah created man with reason and gave him free will so that he can choose to believe or disbelieve, and choose to do good or evil. Because of this freedom of choice, it is perfectly just for man to be held accountable for his actions.