Clarification of the correctness of the statement that man is either compelled or given a choice
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Question:
Is man compelled or given a choice? And what is the difference between will, cosmic will, and legislative will, with examples to illustrate this?
Answer:
Man is both compelled and given a choice. He is given a choice because he has the ability, he has his own choice, he has intellect, and he has will. He acts according to his will and desire; he obeys by his will and disobeys by his will. He is accountable, he is addressed, and he is obligated. By this, he is given a choice: if he wills, he obeys, and if he wills, he disobeys. For this reason, obligations are attached to him, so he is rewarded for obedience and punished for disobedience.
He is compelled in the sense that he does not go beyond the decree of Allah. The prior decree of Allah is not something from which one can escape. So he is guided to the decree of Allah, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2136. He is facilitated for what he was created for, whether it is happiness or misery, but he has no excuse for that. He must work, and he must strive. So he has a choice, he has intellect, he has will, and he has desire, as the Exalted said: [At-Takwir 81:28] AND YOU DO NOT WILL EXCEPT THAT ALLAH WILLS [At-Takwir: 28, 29], and He said: [Al-Anfal: 67], [Al-Muddaththir 74:55] AND THEY DO NOT REMEMBER EXCEPT THAT ALLAH WILLS [Al-Muddaththir: 55, 56], and He said: [An-Nur: 30], [An-Naml: 88], [Al-Ma'idah: 8]. So he has an action, he has a craft, and he has a deed. If someone were to strike him, he would confront him and seek revenge, and he might take revenge without a trial.
The intended meaning : That he has his choice, his will, and his desire, so he is obligated by this, and he is commanded and prohibited. But with all this, he is facilitated. He is facilitated for what he was created for, whether it is misery or happiness. He will not go beyond the decree of Allah, which Allah has made known to Himself alone.
Intention is of two kinds: legislative intention, which is the requirement of the command. Allah commanded His servants to obey Him and worship Him, and He intended that of them legislatively. Some of them disobeyed, and some obeyed. There is also cosmic intention, which means will. No one is exempt from this cosmic intention; rather, it is effective. Cosmic intention, along with will, is effective, as He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: : [Yasin:82]. This is the cosmic intention. And He (Mighty and Majestic) said: [Al-An'am:125]. This is the cosmic intention, meaning will.
As for legislative will, it means the command, like what is in the hadith: that Allah says to some people on the Day of Resurrection:. "I desired" means legislatively, meaning I commanded you. It does not mean cosmic will. No, this is legislative will, meaning I desired from you that you not associate partners with Me, but you refused. I commanded you to do this, but you obeyed your desires and your Shaytan.
Is man compelled or given a choice? And what is the difference between will, cosmic will, and legislative will, with examples to illustrate this?
Answer:
Man is both compelled and given a choice. He is given a choice because he has the ability, he has his own choice, he has intellect, and he has will. He acts according to his will and desire; he obeys by his will and disobeys by his will. He is accountable, he is addressed, and he is obligated. By this, he is given a choice: if he wills, he obeys, and if he wills, he disobeys. For this reason, obligations are attached to him, so he is rewarded for obedience and punished for disobedience.
He is compelled in the sense that he does not go beyond the decree of Allah. The prior decree of Allah is not something from which one can escape. So he is guided to the decree of Allah, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Work, for everyone is facilitated for what he was created.
اعملوا فكل ميسر لما خلق لهFor whoever wills among you to take a right course.
لِمَنْ شَاءَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَسْتَقِيمَ Some Muslims desire the commodities of this world, but Allah desires [for you] the Hereafter
تُرِيدُونَ عَرَضَ الدُّنْيَا وَاللَّهُ يُرِيدُ الْآخِرَةَThen whoever wills will remember it.
فَمَنْ شَاءَ ذَكَرَهُ Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَIndeed, He is Acquainted with that which you do.
إِنَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَindeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَThe intended meaning : That he has his choice, his will, and his desire, so he is obligated by this, and he is commanded and prohibited. But with all this, he is facilitated. He is facilitated for what he was created for, whether it is misery or happiness. He will not go beyond the decree of Allah, which Allah has made known to Himself alone.
Intention is of two kinds: legislative intention, which is the requirement of the command. Allah commanded His servants to obey Him and worship Him, and He intended that of them legislatively. Some of them disobeyed, and some obeyed. There is also cosmic intention, which means will. No one is exempt from this cosmic intention; rather, it is effective. Cosmic intention, along with will, is effective, as He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: :
His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, "Be," and it is.
إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُSo whoever Allah wants to guide - He expands his breast to [contain] Islam; and whoever He wants to misguide - He makes his breast tight and constricted as though he were climbing into the sky
فَمَنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَهْدِيَهُ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ لِلْإِسْلَامِ وَمَنْ يُرِدْ أَنْ يُضِلَّهُ يَجْعَلْ صَدْرَهُ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجًا كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِي السَّمَاءِAs for legislative will, it means the command, like what is in the hadith: that Allah says to some people on the Day of Resurrection:
If you had the world and all that is in it, would you ransom yourself with it from the punishment of Allah? He will say: Yes. Then Allah will say: I desired from you something easier than that. I desired from you that you not associate partners with Me, but you refused except for shirk.
لو كانت لك الدنيا بما فيها أكنت مفتديًا بها من عذاب الله؟ فيقول: نعم، فيقول الله: قد أردت منك ما هو أسهل من ذلك، أردت منك أن لا تشرك بي، فأبيت إلا الشرك
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.