Is Man Free-Will or Determined?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
The listener Abu 'Atiyyah has a number of questions, but we will suffice with this question and postpone the rest of his questions for future episodes, if Allah wills. He asks: Is man free-willed or determined?
Answer:
Man is both free-willed and determined. In terms of what befalls him of divine decrees, he is determined and has no power over the decrees. He is afflicted with illness, he is afflicted with hunger, he is afflicted with blindness, he is afflicted with poverty, and he has no power over that. This is the decree and destiny of Allah. As for the aspect of actions, he is free-willed. In terms of actions, he is free-willed, and Allah has given him will and desire and status, and He has given him physical and mental capacity. He is able to act and he is able to refrain. Therefore, he is rewarded or punished for his actions, which indicates that he is free-willed and not compelled to them. It is he who prays, it is he who fasts, it is he who gives charity, it is he who strives in the path of Allah, it is he who commits disbelief, it is he who commits open sinfulness, and it is he who disobeys by his own choice. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you,
The listener Abu 'Atiyyah has a number of questions, but we will suffice with this question and postpone the rest of his questions for future episodes, if Allah wills. He asks: Is man free-willed or determined?
Answer:
Man is both free-willed and determined. In terms of what befalls him of divine decrees, he is determined and has no power over the decrees. He is afflicted with illness, he is afflicted with hunger, he is afflicted with blindness, he is afflicted with poverty, and he has no power over that. This is the decree and destiny of Allah. As for the aspect of actions, he is free-willed. In terms of actions, he is free-willed, and Allah has given him will and desire and status, and He has given him physical and mental capacity. He is able to act and he is able to refrain. Therefore, he is rewarded or punished for his actions, which indicates that he is free-willed and not compelled to them. It is he who prays, it is he who fasts, it is he who gives charity, it is he who strives in the path of Allah, it is he who commits disbelief, it is he who commits open sinfulness, and it is he who disobeys by his own choice. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you,
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 03/270 — archive.org (12:01)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.