A man says: A doctrinal disagreement arose between me and my brother, in which I told him that man is compelled and not given a choice, and he said
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The questioner : This is a listener to the program who used the initials RMR for his name, from Riyadh, a student at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University. He says in these questions he wrote, which are actually in beautiful and clear handwriting: “My question, O honorable Shaykh, is that a doctrinal disagreement arose between me and my brother, in which I told him that man is compelled and not given a choice, and he said: This is not correct; rather, man is both compelled and given a choice. The argument went on for a long time, so what is the definitive statement in this matter? May you be rewarded with good?”
The Shaykh : The definitive statement in this matter is that man is given a choice and has free will, as he wishes, as Allah the Exalted said:[Hud 11:15] And He, Mighty and Majestic, said: [At-Takwir 81:28] This is a matter known by necessity. So when you presented this letter to us, did you present it under coercion, feeling that someone forced you to present it, or did you present it by choice, taking the paper, writing, and sending the letter? There is no doubt that this is the reality. However, we say that everything we do of actions is written with Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and known to Him. As for us, we do not know what is written with Allah until it happens. But we are commanded to strive to do good and to flee from doing evil, and there is no problem in this at all.
We find that students head to the college, for example, or to the university. Some choose the College of Sharia, some choose the College of Principles of Religion, some choose the College of the Sunnah, some choose the College of Language, and some choose the College of History. The important thing is that each one of them chooses something.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And he does not see that anyone compels him to this choice. So how do we say he is compelled and given a choice? If man were forced in his actions, the wisdom of the legislations would be lost, and punishing man for his disobedience would be injustice. And Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is free from injustice. So man acts by his choice, without doubt. But if he acts, it is obligatory for him to believe that this is something decreed upon him from before, but he did not know that it was decreed until after it occurred. For this reason, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 4945 They said: O Messenger of Allah, should we then leave off our actions and rely on the decree? He said: So he established for them an intended action: Sahih al-Bukhari 4948 Then he recited His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Layl 92:5-9] So the correct view is with your brother: that man is compelled and given a choice. The meaning of “given a choice” is that he has the choice in what he does and what he leaves. But what he chose is a matter written with Allah, and he does not know what Allah wrote for him until it occurs, so he knows that this was written. And if he leaves something, he knows that it was not written. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The definitive statement in this matter is that man is given a choice and has free will, as he wishes, as Allah the Exalted said:
Whoever desires the life of this world and its adornments - We fully repay them for their deeds therein, and they therein will not be deprived.
من كان يريد الحياة الدنيا وزينتها نوف إليهم أعمالهم فيها وهم فيها لا يبخسونFor whoever wills among you to take a right course.
لمن شاء منكم أن يستقيمWe find that students head to the college, for example, or to the university. Some choose the College of Sharia, some choose the College of Principles of Religion, some choose the College of the Sunnah, some choose the College of Language, and some choose the College of History. The important thing is that each one of them chooses something.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And he does not see that anyone compels him to this choice. So how do we say he is compelled and given a choice? If man were forced in his actions, the wisdom of the legislations would be lost, and punishing man for his disobedience would be injustice. And Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is free from injustice. So man acts by his choice, without doubt. But if he acts, it is obligatory for him to believe that this is something decreed upon him from before, but he did not know that it was decreed until after it occurred. For this reason, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
There is none of you but has his place written for him in Paradise or in the Hell- Fire.
ما منكم من أحد إلا وقد كتِب مقعده من الجنة ومقعده من النارWork
اعملواThose who are destined to be happy (in the Hereafter) will find it easy and pleasant to do the deeds characteristic of those destined to happiness, while those who are to be among the miserable (in the Hereafter), will find it easy to do the deeds characteristic of those destined to misery.
اعملوا فكل ميسر لما خلِق له فأما أهل السعادة فييسّرون لعمل أهل السعادة وأما أهل الشقاوة فييسّرون لعمل أهل الشقاوة(5) As for he who gives and fears Allah (6) And believes in the best [reward], (7) We will ease him toward ease. (8) But as for he who withholds and considers himself free of need (9) And denies the best [reward],
فأما من أعطى واتقى وصدّق بالحسنى فسنيسّره لليسرى وأما من بخل واستغنى وكذّب بالحسنى فسنيسره للعسرىThe questioner : May Allah bless you.