General - Does free will exist?

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Does free will exist?

Printed From: IslamiCity.org
Category: Religion - Islam
Forum Name: General
Forum Description: General questionss
URL: https://www.islamicity.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=42351
Printed Date: 21 November 2024 at 1:31pm
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Topic: Does free will exist?

Posted By: snoopies622
Subject: Does free will exist?
Date Posted: 15 March 2018 at 7:08pm

I've been reading the Shakir English translation of the Qur'an for a while, and something is puzzling me: In Islam, do humans have free will?

On the one hand, the Qur'an says that Allah is all powerful, but on the other it also says that He rewards or punishes humans based on their actions, which implies that people are making choices. If Allah is all powerful, how are humans making choices?

I'm new to this forum and would appreciate any help on this matter, thanks.

Replies:

Posted By: Dr. Aslam
Date Posted: 16 March 2018 at 10:58am

Wa alaikum Salam,
Allah has set the rules and given human beings the right to either accept them or reject them As the Quran says in 76:3 We showed him the Way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will).
If a human being makes a choice that does not mean he is interfering in the majesty of God. All it means that he is willing to risk the consequences of what he does.

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Best Regards,
Aslam Abdullah

Posted By: snoopies622
Date Posted: 16 March 2018 at 4:17pm

Thank you Dr. Aslam! That was lovely. A follow up related question, if I may: Given that Allah is omniscient, it follows that He knows — even before we are born — all the choices that we will make. Would you agree? I have not found a passage in the Qur'an that says exactly this, but it seems logical to me.

Posted By: Dr. Aslam
Date Posted: 17 March 2018 at 8:37pm

Salam,
Allah describes himself as the one who knows what is ghaib *beyond our comprehension and what is apparent. But he has given us the choice to act upon his guidance to lead a meaningful life for here and the next world. He does not control our choice but he knows the consequences of our actions.

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Best Regards,
Aslam Abdullah