Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother,

I know that the concept of fate is existent in Islam, but how does it apply when Man is also given free will?

Your Brother,

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

ANSWER:

Fate and Free Will

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

It is indeed a fact that the concept of fate or ‘taqdeer’ is existent in Islam, and it is also a fact that Allah has allowed man a free will.

The difference is that man will not be questioned by Allah on the Day of Judgement on the matters of fate. He will never be questioned as to why he was born in so and so age, nor will he be asked why was he short, or why was he dark in color, or why did he die in so and so place, etc!

Allah has made evident for every person between virtue and sin, good and evil. This is, so to say, in the ‘hard disc’ of every human being. No one can claim that he commits adultery, or drinks alcohol, or he steals or lies, because it is his fate! Nor does one give charity, or worship Allah, or fasts because it is his fate! Herein is the free will that has been given to every person by Allah, and this is precisely what every human being will be questioned about on the Day of Judgement. A person will obtain Allah’s Mercy or deserve Allah’s Wrath for this free will.

Allah says in the Holy Quran in Chapter 67 Surah Al Mulk verse 2: He (Allah) created death and life that He may test you, to see which of you is the best in deeds.

Thus the obvious questions that comes to mind is why doesn’t Allah stop the person from committing the sin! But that is precisely the test! From the free will given by Allah, Allah has allowed man to choose what path he wants to follow.

If one does good of his own free will, Allah allows it and is pleased with the person. If one commits sin, Allah allows it too, but is displeased with the person. And this free will is only for an appointed time, until the death of that person. When that period is over, Allah will Judge with justice according to the deeds done by the person of his own free will.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan