Predestination and Free Will AWARE Center diwaniyas www.dawahmemo.com

The basic beliefs of a Muslim God, Creator and Sustainer of all Messengers & prophets, including Mohammad Divine books, including the Quran Angels, who are charged with tasks Judgment, Heaven and Hell Qadr: predestination or divine decree

Predestination (Qadr قّّّدر = ) “Blessed is He… whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and who has not taken a son and has not had a partner in dominion and has created each thing and determined it with [precise] determination (or ordained for it a measure).” (فقدره تقدير) )25:2)

Predestination (Qadr) “Nothing occurs, either in the earth or in yourselves, without its being in a Book before We make it happen. That is something easy for God.” (57:22) “He directs the whole affair from Heaven to Earth…” (32:5)

Rejection of predestination: “I have sole control over my life and my destiny.” “God is distant and removed from human actions.” “There is no god. I am god of myself.”

Fatalistic misinterpretations: “My destiny is sealed; I have no real choice.” “All events are caused by Divine Power; I have no power.” “My weaknesses, sins, and shortcomings are due to God’s will that I am so.”

Common Confusion: “If God directs the whole affair, do I have power over myself?” “If I have free choice, why did prophet Mohammad say that when the soul is breathed into the fetus, the angel asks God, “Is is blessed or wretched?” referring to it’s fate in Heaven or Hell?”

Common Confusion: “If God knows my fate in Heaven or Hell, why doesn’t He just send me there from the beginning?” “If God already has a Book with every event recorded, what is the use of me doing or trying anything? Isn’t all that is supposed to happen going to happen anyway?”

The purpose of free will “It is He who created the heavens and the earth… in order to test which of you has the best actions…” (11:7) “Every self will taste death. We test you with both good and evil as a trial. And you will be returned to us.” (21:35) “You will be tested in your wealth and in yourselves…” (3:186) “God will make evident those who are truthful and He will surely make evident the untruthful.” (29:3)

The responsibility of free will “Whoever acts rightly, it is to his own good. Whoever does evil, it is to his detriment. Your Lord does not wrong his servants.” (41:46) “And whatever strikes you of disaster – it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.” (42:30) “God does not wrong people in any way; rather it is people who wrong themselves.” (10:44) (mentioned many times)

The limitations of free will Our nature (we must eat; we can’t fly) The nature of our surroundings (gravity) God’s will, which supersedes the above: “Say, ‘I possess no power to harm or help myself except as God wills’…” (10:49)

Using ‘God’s Will’ as an Excuse “And they said, ‘If the Most Merciful had willed, we would not have worshipped them (false gods).’ They have no knowledge of that. They are only lying.” (43:20)

What is our power? Choice Intention Initiative Sustained effort ________________ response-ability

Extraordinary examples Mary: “And the pains of labor drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said, ‘Oh, if only I had died before this time and was something discarded and forgotten!’ A voice called out to her from under her, ‘Do not grieve! Your Lord has placed a small stream at your feet. Shake the trunk of the palm towards you and fresh, ripe dates will drop down to you. Eat and drink and delight your eyes….’” (19:20)

Extraordinary examples Moses: “When the two hosts came into sight of one another, Moses’ companions said, ‘We will surely be overtaken!’ he said, ‘Never! My Lord is with me and He will guide me.’ So We revealed to Moses, ‘Strike the sea with your staff.’ And it split into two, each part like a towering cliff.” (26:61-63)

Ordinary examples Planting seeds: “…He makes crops grow for you…” (16:11) Birds flying: “Do they not see the birds suspended in mid-air in the sky? Nothing holds them there except God…” (16:79) Love: “…He has placed affection and compassion between you…” (30:21)

Man’s free will Man chooses his responses Man intends his actions Man acts according to his intentions He may or may not achieve his will, due to the superiority of God’s will, but his response, his intentions and his actions are his choice alone, and they will determine his fate.

Man’s destiny: when free will and divine knowledge merge Man’s free will results in an accumulation of responses, intentions, and actions in a variety of life’s situations. Each man’s chosen destiny is known to God even before he was created, because God’s knowledge knows no time boundaries.

God’s knowledge and will Man’s intention Man’s action God accepts the outcome God rejects the outcome Man’s response God disrupts the action God wills the outcome God executes the outcome Man’s response

Man’s book & God’s Book The proof of each one’s character and worth is in his own record of accumulated deeds. All events in the universe are recorded in God’s book, which is not bound to time or place.

Believing in God’s Book: Reassurance of His knowledge “And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there in the darkness of the earth, and no moist or dry thing, but that it is written in a clear record.” (6:59)

Believing in God’s Book: Reassurance of His presence “There is in no private conversation three but that He is the fourth of them, nor are there five but that He is the sixth of them… He is with them [in knowledge] wherever they are…” (58:7)

Believing in predestination: Accepting responsibility for oneself “…God never changes a people’s state until they change what is in themselves…” (13:11) Mohammad said, “Act, because you do not know what you were created for.”

Believing in predestination: Depending on God’s support “Whoever puts his trust in God – He will be enough for him.”(65:2) Mohammad said, “Tie your camel, then trust in God.”

Believing in predestination: Accepting what is beyond one’s control Firm faith in qadr, or predestination, gives one confidence to act fearlessly and to accept all outcomes without grief. Whoever submits to God and is good… no fear for him… nor shall he grieve.” (2:112) “…Whoever follows my guidance, no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.” (2:38)

The Answers: “If I have free choice, why did prophet Mohammad say that when the soul is breathed into the fetus, the angel asks God, “Is is blessed or wretched?” referring to it’s fate in Heaven or Hell?” Because His knowledge is not bound by time or place.

The Answers: “If God already has a Book with every event recorded, what is the use of me doing or trying anything? Isn’t all that is supposed to happen going to happen anyway?” You are responsible for yourself. What is going to happen will depend on your own action.

The Answers: “If God directs the whole affair, do I have power over myself?’” Yes, you have power to choose a response, to plan an action, to initiate an action, and to make the necessary effort to achieve your objectives.

The Answers: “If God knows my fate in Heaven or Hell, why doesn’t He just send me there from the beginning?” God, as the Perfect Judge, does not judge one without requiring the necessary proof – proof for the person in question and proof for others who may question His judgment.

Predestination and Free Will AWARE Center diwaniyas