Page 78 - World Religions I - Islam

choice.
 Humans have complete control over their destiny to the extent that Allah does not even know
what man will choose to do.
 The problem that opposing Muslims have with this view is that if man can choose to do right
or wrong, then man also became a creator of actions, just like Allah creates actions.
• Ash'arites.
o The Ash'arites agree with the Jabarites in that Allah has the will to do as he pleases, either good or evil.
In order to allow for the fact that each man has the power of choice, however, Ash'arites conclude that
although Allah decrees for a man to do a thing, he also gives man the choice and desire to do it.
 In this way, each man is responsible for his own actions because he chose to do what Allah had
decreed for him to do, even though he could do nothing else.
 This teaching is known as kasb ("acquiring").
• The Qur'an has a number of passages that deal with the concept of predestination.
o Everything happens by the Will of Allah.
 "Nor can a soul die except by Allah's leave, the term being fixed as by writing. If any do desire a
reward in this life, We shall give it to him; and if any do desire a reward in the Hereafter, We shall
give it to him. And swiftly shall We reward those that (serve us with) gratitude." Al-Imran (The
Family of Imran) 3:145 (emphasis added)
 "And with Him are the keys of the unseen treasures - none knows them but He; and He knows
what is in the land and the sea, and there falls not a leaf but He knows it, nor a grain in the
darkness of the earth, nor anything green nor dry but (it is all) in a clear book." - Al-Anaam (Cattle)
6:59
 "Say: For myself I have no power to benefit, nor power to hurt, save that which Allah willeth. Had I
knowledge of the Unseen, I should have abundance of wealth, and adversity would not touch
me. I am but a warner, and a bearer of good tidings unto folk who believe." - Al-Araf (The Heights)
7:188 (emphasis added)
 "Say: 'Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector', and on
Allah let the Believers put their trust." - At-Tawba (Repentance) 9:51
o Allah predestines the fate of every soul. Many of these verses beg the question, how can Allah be a just
judge if he dooms people to Hell after causing them to err?
 "Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is Allah's; and whether you manifest
what is in your minds or hide it, Allah will call you to account according to it; then He will forgive
whom He pleases and chastise whom He pleases, and Allah has power over all things." - Al-
Baqarah (The Cow) 2:284
 "Do you wish to guide him whom Allah has caused to err? And whomsoever Allah causes to err,
you shall by no means find a way for him." - An-Nisa' (Women) 4:88b
 "Whomsoever Allah guides, he is the one who follows the right way; and whomsoever He causes
to err, these are the losers. And certainly, We have created for hell many of the jinn and the
men..." - Al-Araf (The Heights) 7:178-179a
 "And if I intend to give you good advice, my advice will not profit you if Allah intended that He
should leave you to go astray; He is your Lord, and to Him shall you be returned." -Hud 11:34 See
also the following passages: 2:272, 5:18, 5:40-41. 6:125, 11:117-119, 14:4, 17:16, 39:23, 39:37-
38, 42:44 and 46, 76:31.
o Allah predestines whether a person will believe.
 "And if your Lord had pleased, surely all those who are in the earth would have believed, all of
them; will you then force men till they become believers? And it is not for a soul to believe except
by Allah's permission; and He casts uncleanness on those who will not understand." - Yunus (Jonah)
10:99-100 (emphasis added)

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