The Determination and the Choice in the Deeds of Servants and the Writing of the Decree
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Question:
As far as I know, everything that happens to a person is written before he is created until he dies. How is this? And are we given a choice in our deeds, or are we compelled?
Answer:
This writing is the decree and judgment of Allah, and we have no part in it; this is a matter for Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
What is our concern is the deed. Allah has given us the ability and capacity to act, enabled us to do so, and made clear to us the good deed from the bad deed. He has outlined the path and the plan for us. So we have no excuse if we leave off the deed while we are able to do it, or if we commit a sin while we know it is a sin and that it is bad. We have no excuse in that. So we blame ourselves and do not blame the decree. It is Iblis who blamed the decree when Allah cursed him.[Al-Hijr 15:39]. So he is a determinist. This is the doctrine of the determinists, those who say that we are compelled and not given a choice.
As for the people of the Sunnah and the community, they say that we are both compelled and given a choice. We are compelled in terms of the divine decree and destiny, and we are given a choice in terms of the deed. So you pray by your choice. You fast by your choice. You perform Hajj and 'Umrah by your choice. You give charity by your choice. You do the deeds by your choice, or you leave them off by your choice and disobey by your choice. So it is upon you to blame yourself.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about that when he informed his Companions, and he said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2136.
Then Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) revealed His saying: "Indeed, your efforts are diverse"Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3344Sahih (Darussalam). You do the cause, and success is from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
As far as I know, everything that happens to a person is written before he is created until he dies. How is this? And are we given a choice in our deeds, or are we compelled?
Answer:
This writing is the decree and judgment of Allah, and we have no part in it; this is a matter for Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
What is our concern is the deed. Allah has given us the ability and capacity to act, enabled us to do so, and made clear to us the good deed from the bad deed. He has outlined the path and the plan for us. So we have no excuse if we leave off the deed while we are able to do it, or if we commit a sin while we know it is a sin and that it is bad. We have no excuse in that. So we blame ourselves and do not blame the decree. It is Iblis who blamed the decree when Allah cursed him.
[Iblees] said, "My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on earth
قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِAs for the people of the Sunnah and the community, they say that we are both compelled and given a choice. We are compelled in terms of the divine decree and destiny, and we are given a choice in terms of the deed. So you pray by your choice. You fast by your choice. You perform Hajj and 'Umrah by your choice. You give charity by your choice. You do the deeds by your choice, or you leave them off by your choice and disobey by your choice. So it is upon you to blame yourself.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about that when he informed his Companions, and he said:
None of you is there except that his place in Paradise or Hellfire is written. They said: "O Messenger of Allah, should we not rely on our record and leave off the deed?" He said: "No."
ما منكم من احد الا ومكتوب مقعده في الجنة او النار. قالوا يا رسول الله الا نتكل على كتابنا وندع العمل؟ قال لا.Work, for everyone is facilitated for what he was created.
اعملوا فكل ميسر لما خلق لهThen Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) revealed His saying: "Indeed, your efforts are diverse"
As for him who has Taqwa, And believes in Al-Husna. We will make smooth for him the patch of ease. But he who is greedy and thinks himself sel-sufficient, and denies Al-Husna. We will make smooth for him the path to evil.
فاما من اعطى واتقى وصدق بالحسنى فسنيسره لليسرى واما من بخل واستغنى وكذب بالحسنى فسنيسره للعسرىThe presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، محاضرات في العقيدة والدعوة-46-معالم من منهج أهل السنة والجماعة|صالح الفوزان|العام|كبار العلماء — youtube.com (55:23)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.