Man Is Both Determined and Given Choice

Question: I hope you will inform me: is man given choice in this world, or is he determined?In the following noble verse: [Surah al-Kahf: 29], indicates that man is given choice,In the other noble verse: [Surah al-Takwir: 29], indicates that man is determined. What is the meaning of these two verses, and is there a contradiction between them as it appears, or not?

Answer: Man is both determined and given choice; both matters coexist in him. He is determined in terms of the execution of Allah’s decrees and His destiny upon him, and his submission to that in reality and in decree, and that he cannot escape from Allah’s destiny and decree which He has decreed for him. From this perspective, he is determined.
As for his own actions, movements, and conduct, he is given choice; because he does and leaves off deeds by his will, intention, and choice, so he is given choice.
The servant has a will and a choice, but he is a follower of the will of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and His destiny and decree. Therefore, he is rewarded for obedience and punished for disobedience which he does by his choice and will. As for the one who has no choice or will, such as the coerced, the forgetful, and the one unable to perform obedience, this person is not punished; because his will and choice are stripped from him, either by coercion, or by forgetfulness, or by the opposite, or by the loss of reason, such as the insane and the imbecile. So in these states, he is not punished for his conduct; because he is devoid of choice and devoid of will.
As for the two noble verses you referred to,His saying, the Exalted: [Surah al-Takwir: 29], this supports what we mentioned; because Allah affirmed for the servant a will and a choice, and affirmed for Himself (Glorified and Exalted is He) a will, and made the servant’s will a follower of the will of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). So the noble verse indicated the affirmation of the two wills: the affirmation of the will for the servant, and the affirmation of the will for Allah, and as for the servant’s will, it is a follower of the will of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).

And as for His saying (the Exalted): [Surah al-Kahf: 29], this does not mean giving choice, but this means prohibition, threat, and reprimand [Surah al-Kahf: 29], this means threat and reprimand, and that if a person disobeys Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and disbelieves in Allah, then Allah will punish him; because he did disbelief by his choice, and he did disbelief by his will and intention, so he deserves the punishment of Allah and entering the Fire [Surah al-Kahf: 29].