A discussion took place between me and my friend regarding the issue of whether a human being is compelled or has free will. However, we did not reach a satisfactory conclusion, so please inform us about this, may you be rewarded.
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The questioner : A discussion took place between me and a friend of mine regarding the issue: Is a human being one who has free will or one who is compelled? However, we did not reach a satisfactory answer, so please inform us about this, may you be rewarded?
The Shaykh : The information on this is that we say to the person: Look within yourself; do not ask anyone other than yourself.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : Do you do what you do under compulsion, or do you do it by your own choice? If you perform wudu in your home and go out to pray and pray with the congregation, are you compelled to do this? Or did you do it by your own choice? If you go out to your market and open your shop and sell and buy, are you forced to do that, or do you do it by your own choice? If you want to study at a specific school, whether primary, middle, high school, university, or higher studies, do you do that by your own choice, or are you forced to do it? I am surprised that this question would come from a person who knows himself and knows his actions.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then he asks whether he is compelled or has free will? Everyone knows the difference between what a person does by his own choice, will, and volition, and what he is forced to do. The one who is forced to do an action is not attributed with that action, and no sin is incurred by him for it, as Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nahl 16:106].
If the human being were forced to do his deeds, then punishing the sinner would be injustice, because he would say: O my Lord, I was forced; I have no choice. If the human being were forced to do his deeds, then the recording of ... would be in vain, because he is rewarded for something that is not from his action and not from his choice.
So my brother the questioner and other Muslims should think about this matter and know that they are not forced to act, but rather they do things by their own choice without being forced to do so.
However, ... he knows that what happens from us in terms of action is by the prior divine decree and destiny of Allah Mighty and Majestic, and by the will of Allah Glorified and Exalted it occurs. The qadar is the decree and will of Allah, and their realization is not known except after the servant acts. The scholars of the people of the Sunnah have mentioned that the qadar has levels. The first is knowledge: that you believe that Allah Glorified and Exalted is All-Knowing of everything in general and in detail, eternally and forever. So my Lord does not err, nor does He forget, and nothing is hidden from Him on earth or in the heavens.
The second is the writing: that you believe that Allah the Exalted has written in the Preserved Tablet the measures of everything until the Day of Resurrection.
The third is the will: that you believe that what Allah willed came to be, and what He did not will did not come to be, and that nothing occurs in the heavens or on earth except by the will of Allah Glorified and Exalted.
The fourth, and the fourth level, is creation: that you believe that Allah the Exalted is the Creator of everything, and that nothing in the heavens or on earth exists except that Allah is its Creator, Exalted and Majestic is He. Belief in the qadar is one of the six pillars of faith with which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) answered Jibril when he asked about faith. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 8a. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. This is a listener to the program saying this question, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The information on this is that we say to the person: Look within yourself; do not ask anyone other than yourself.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : Do you do what you do under compulsion, or do you do it by your own choice? If you perform wudu in your home and go out to pray and pray with the congregation, are you compelled to do this? Or did you do it by your own choice? If you go out to your market and open your shop and sell and buy, are you forced to do that, or do you do it by your own choice? If you want to study at a specific school, whether primary, middle, high school, university, or higher studies, do you do that by your own choice, or are you forced to do it? I am surprised that this question would come from a person who knows himself and knows his actions.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then he asks whether he is compelled or has free will? Everyone knows the difference between what a person does by his own choice, will, and volition, and what he is forced to do. The one who is forced to do an action is not attributed with that action, and no sin is incurred by him for it, as Allah the Exalted said:
Whoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief... except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief, upon them is wrath from Allah, and for them is a great punishment;
مَنْ كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ إِيمَانِهِ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالإِيمَانِ وَلَكِنْ مَنْ شَرَحَ بِالْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌIf the human being were forced to do his deeds, then punishing the sinner would be injustice, because he would say: O my Lord, I was forced; I have no choice. If the human being were forced to do his deeds, then the recording of ... would be in vain, because he is rewarded for something that is not from his action and not from his choice.
So my brother the questioner and other Muslims should think about this matter and know that they are not forced to act, but rather they do things by their own choice without being forced to do so.
However, ... he knows that what happens from us in terms of action is by the prior divine decree and destiny of Allah Mighty and Majestic, and by the will of Allah Glorified and Exalted it occurs. The qadar is the decree and will of Allah, and their realization is not known except after the servant acts. The scholars of the people of the Sunnah have mentioned that the qadar has levels. The first is knowledge: that you believe that Allah Glorified and Exalted is All-Knowing of everything in general and in detail, eternally and forever. So my Lord does not err, nor does He forget, and nothing is hidden from Him on earth or in the heavens.
The second is the writing: that you believe that Allah the Exalted has written in the Preserved Tablet the measures of everything until the Day of Resurrection.
The third is the will: that you believe that what Allah willed came to be, and what He did not will did not come to be, and that nothing occurs in the heavens or on earth except by the will of Allah Glorified and Exalted.
The fourth, and the fourth level, is creation: that you believe that Allah the Exalted is the Creator of everything, and that nothing in the heavens or on earth exists except that Allah is its Creator, Exalted and Majestic is He. Belief in the qadar is one of the six pillars of faith with which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) answered Jibril when he asked about faith. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Apostles, in the Day of Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree about good and evil.
أن تؤمن بالله، وملائكته، وكتبه، ورسله، واليوم الأخر، وتؤمن بالقدر خيره وشرهThe questioner : May Allah bless you. This is a listener to the program saying this question, O honorable Shaykh.