Discussion of the issue: Is man compelled or does he have free will?

The Shaykh : So, after this brief and concise introduction, is man compelled or does he have free will?
Answer: In some matters related to it, he is compelled; meaning, he has no acquisition or will in them. There are many examples, and we reminded you of some of them. In another category, he is not compelled; meaning, he is not forced. No, rather, he has free will. Now, I am speaking and you are listening; do you think we are compelled in this and that, or do we have free will? We all have free will. You did not come here, and I did not come here, except by pure choice, and I do not speak except by pure choice. Now, if you wish, we can conduct an experiment: I will remain silent. Allah does not impose speaking on me. I will remain silent. If I wish, I can prolong the silence for you, and we will prolong it, but that is not suitable for us. So now I say: This speech is the creation of Allah, but by my choice and acquisition. So, man is compelled in some matters, and has free will in other matters. And any person who says that man is always compelled, "stop him" by slapping him in the face. If he says to you: Why? You say to him: I am forced, I am compelled, I have no free will [Everyone laughs!]. The philosophy that entered the Mu'tazilah is what corrupted the fitrah (innate natural disposition) of the Muslims, which fully agrees with what came in the Book of Allah and what came in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Is it said to one who is compelled, to one who is forced: Do it, bow, prostrate, perform wudu' (ablution)?! This is impossible. If you had a slave and you shackled him with chains and said to him: Go to the market and buy me something, you would be the most unjust of people. How can it be imagined that those who say of compulsion that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) created man and forced him onto the path of good or evil, so he is forced? How can this be said about Allah, who is the most wise of the wise and the most just of the just? And we do not accept describing ourselves with what these people describe their Lord with, unjustly and oppressively? This is a matter that is written and very clear. And that poet exaggerated in disbelief and misguidance when he described his Lord, representing the relationship of the servant with his Lord, by saying:
"He threw him into the sea with his hands bound, then said to him: Beware, beware of being wet by the water."
He forced the most forceful and was more unjust than the most unjust. If He did this, it would be above His injustice and above His force; so how can this be attributed to Allah? Glorified and Exalted is He above what the wrongdoers say, by a great height.