How do we respond to those who deny the servant's will?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. The issue of divine decree... old and new. A person may be tested by relatives who raise this objection. Is it beneficial... does their will for him silence them?
The Shaykh : My brother, answer them with reason. The Shari'ah does not benefit them in this, nor do they know that Allah has given them will, power, and choice. They know this. They know, for example, to go to Makkah instead of Madinah, or Madinah instead of Makkah, or to go to another country instead of another because it has more provision, for example. They know this. No one can lag behind a country he sees as better and say, "By Allah, Allah did not decree this for me." Do you understand? Argue with them using reason. Say, "Come, if you were told now that the way to Makkah is from two directions: one direction is all frightening, all rugged, and all dangerous, and the other direction is safe, where a person reaches Makkah comfortably, which one would he go from?"
The student: From the straight path.
The Shaykh : They all go with this. Now, there are two paths before you: the path to the Fire and the path to Paradise. Why would I go with the path to the Fire and say, "By Allah, this is decreed upon me... against my will"? Is a person coerced? He is not coerced. It is true that if a person falls into a matter and repents from it, he may cite divine decree, saying, "By Allah, this is something that slipped from me and was not by my will." This may be an excuse for him, just as Adam cited divine decree against Moses in one of the narrations of the hadith.
The Shaykh : My brother, answer them with reason. The Shari'ah does not benefit them in this, nor do they know that Allah has given them will, power, and choice. They know this. They know, for example, to go to Makkah instead of Madinah, or Madinah instead of Makkah, or to go to another country instead of another because it has more provision, for example. They know this. No one can lag behind a country he sees as better and say, "By Allah, Allah did not decree this for me." Do you understand? Argue with them using reason. Say, "Come, if you were told now that the way to Makkah is from two directions: one direction is all frightening, all rugged, and all dangerous, and the other direction is safe, where a person reaches Makkah comfortably, which one would he go from?"
The student: From the straight path.
The Shaykh : They all go with this. Now, there are two paths before you: the path to the Fire and the path to Paradise. Why would I go with the path to the Fire and say, "By Allah, this is decreed upon me... against my will"? Is a person coerced? He is not coerced. It is true that if a person falls into a matter and repents from it, he may cite divine decree, saying, "By Allah, this is something that slipped from me and was not by my will." This may be an excuse for him, just as Adam cited divine decree against Moses in one of the narrations of the hadith.