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I personally believe in free will and divine predetermination after debating the existence of free will for roughly a week, I've come to the conclusion that both can exist as explained here:
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Divine providence—the idea that everything has already been decreed by the Creator from eternity—has troubled theologians and philosophers for centuries. How can we reconcile the two apparently contradictory facts that Allah has absolute power and sovereignty over all creation, and that at the same time we are responsible for our actions? Are we forced to do what we do, or are our choices meaningful?
The question of divine providence, also known as divine decree or predestination, led to one of the earliest sectarian schisms in the Muslim community, between the Qadarites, who believed in absolute human free will (Allah has no control over us), and the Jabarites, who believed in absolute determinism and fatalism (we have no control over our actions). Each of these groups developed an extreme and misguided theology. If Allah has no control, then why call upon Allah in prayer? And if we have no control over our actions and fate, why do any good deeds at all?
Not only was this question a sharp controversy in early Islamic history, it has been an important issue throughout history for both religious and secular reasons. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote seriously on the topic over two thousand years ago because of its implications for understanding order in the universe, the origin of life, human freedom, and happiness.
1.
Today, under the heading of determinism, it is the subject of complex academic debate, in scientific disciplines such as mathematics, physics, biology, psychology, and the social sciences.
2.
Clearly, our understanding of destiny plays a decisive role in both our view of the world and, perhaps more importantly, our behavior in it. The myriad of philosophical conundrums that arise from this issue have led many, including Muslims, to experience doubt in their faith. How then does Islam solve this dilemma?
The Qur’an and Sunnah (prophetic traditions and practices of the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him) take a middle path between the two historical extremes, upholding both Allah’s sovereignty and humankind’s responsibility. From a purely rational standpoint, these two aspects seem mutually exclusive; in other words, that they cannot both be true. However, we have to remember that Allah exists outside of time and space, beyond the cosmic veil in the Unseen. By contrast, human beings can only conceive of realities within the framework of time and space. Divine providence is a reality that exists beyond time and space, which means we are simply incapable of conceiving it with our limited rational faculties.
For this reason, Allah communicated the reality of providence using the tools of language—in particular, literary imagery (al-taṣwīr al-fannī)—which in the Qur’anic sciences involves “expressing a mental meaning by use of sensory and visualized pictures.”
3.
These images are the Pen, the Preserved Tablet, and the angelic records of deeds. They articulate the nature of providence, that Allah has complete control over what is decreed from pre-eternity and what is later expunged. These images are not fictional nor merely metaphorical. On the contrary, they constitute profound truths in the universe and are realities in themselves. While all things have already been decreed from eternity, Allah has the power to change destiny based upon the choices we make. We are, indeed, morally responsible for our actions and our free will entails a measure of control to determine our ultimate fate, limited under Allah’s sovereignty.
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Divine providence—the idea that everything has already been decreed by the Creator from eternity—has troubled theologians and philosophers for centuries. How can we reconcile the two apparently contradictory facts that Allah has absolute power and sovereignty over all creation, and that at the same time we are responsible for our actions? Are we forced to do what we do, or are our choices meaningful?
The question of divine providence, also known as divine decree or predestination, led to one of the earliest sectarian schisms in the Muslim community, between the Qadarites, who believed in absolute human free will (Allah has no control over us), and the Jabarites, who believed in absolute determinism and fatalism (we have no control over our actions). Each of these groups developed an extreme and misguided theology. If Allah has no control, then why call upon Allah in prayer? And if we have no control over our actions and fate, why do any good deeds at all?
Not only was this question a sharp controversy in early Islamic history, it has been an important issue throughout history for both religious and secular reasons. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote seriously on the topic over two thousand years ago because of its implications for understanding order in the universe, the origin of life, human freedom, and happiness.
1.
Today, under the heading of determinism, it is the subject of complex academic debate, in scientific disciplines such as mathematics, physics, biology, psychology, and the social sciences.
2.
Clearly, our understanding of destiny plays a decisive role in both our view of the world and, perhaps more importantly, our behavior in it. The myriad of philosophical conundrums that arise from this issue have led many, including Muslims, to experience doubt in their faith. How then does Islam solve this dilemma?
The Qur’an and Sunnah (prophetic traditions and practices of the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him) take a middle path between the two historical extremes, upholding both Allah’s sovereignty and humankind’s responsibility. From a purely rational standpoint, these two aspects seem mutually exclusive; in other words, that they cannot both be true. However, we have to remember that Allah exists outside of time and space, beyond the cosmic veil in the Unseen. By contrast, human beings can only conceive of realities within the framework of time and space. Divine providence is a reality that exists beyond time and space, which means we are simply incapable of conceiving it with our limited rational faculties.
For this reason, Allah communicated the reality of providence using the tools of language—in particular, literary imagery (al-taṣwīr al-fannī)—which in the Qur’anic sciences involves “expressing a mental meaning by use of sensory and visualized pictures.”
3.
These images are the Pen, the Preserved Tablet, and the angelic records of deeds. They articulate the nature of providence, that Allah has complete control over what is decreed from pre-eternity and what is later expunged. These images are not fictional nor merely metaphorical. On the contrary, they constitute profound truths in the universe and are realities in themselves. While all things have already been decreed from eternity, Allah has the power to change destiny based upon the choices we make. We are, indeed, morally responsible for our actions and our free will entails a measure of control to determine our ultimate fate, limited under Allah’s sovereignty.
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