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Fate
or Free Will, Nature or Nurture
Q
1. Please explain what is the concept of fate in Islam. We Muslims say that
Allah knows everything. He knows what is going to happen to us and He knows
what our end will be. If Allah knows all these things, so why are we being judged?
We don't have our own will to do anything; in that case whatever we may do Allah
already has our fate decided. Please reply.
A 1. We do not use the word "fate" in Islam. The word "fate"
means "the power that determines the outcome of events before they occur".
Some people believe in fate as an independent and invisible power that controls
their destinies. Such people are called "fatalists". A Muslim is not
a fatalist person. Muslims believe in Allah and only Allah has the power to
predetermine anything. Allah is "al-Qadir" (the All Powerful or Omnipotent)
and "al-'Aleem" (the All Knower, Omniscient). Since Allah has power
over every thing, He must know every thing. He must know things before they
happen, because if He knew things only after they happened, He would not have
full power over them. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala not only knows everything, but
He also decides and determines everything in His universe. Whatever happens
in this world happens according to Allah's decision and plan. In Islamic terminology
this principle is known as "al-qada wa al-qadar"(the decision and
determination of Allah). It is a very important principle of Iman (faith).
Does this mean that we human beings have no freedom? It seems that way apparently
to some people. One Western scholar put the problem very interestingly in the
following words: "If God knows everything He must know the future, and
if He knows the future, He must know the future acts of His creatures. But then
His creatures must act, as He knows they will act. How then can they be free?"
There are many people who became confused by looking at the problem in this
way. There were also some Muslim thinkers who believed that human beings had
no freedom. They were called "Jabriyah". The majority of Muslim scholars
did not accept this position, they strongly criticized and condemned this position
and considered it against the teachings of the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah.
The mainstream Muslim position is that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has the knowledge
of all things and He has the power over all things. Allah, however, has also
granted freedom to human beings. Allah's power and foreknowledge do not mean
that human beings have no freedom, nor does Human freedom negate Allah's power
and foreknowledge. Human beings are free only as much as Allah has granted them
the freedom. However, in spite of our human freedom we are still under the control
of Allah and within His knowledge. Allah will judge us according to the freedom
and responsibility that He gave us. He knows very well how much freedom we have
and to what extent we are able to exercise our freedom, each one of us in our
own circumstances. It is for this reason that we say that only Allah is the
True and Final Judge. In the Qur'an He is called "Ahkam al-hakimin"
(the best of all the judges, Hud 11:45; al-Tin 95:8)).
When we carefully examine our own selves and the world around us, we see two
things very clearly. On the one hand we find ourselves overwhelmed by forces
that are apparently beyond our decision and control, but on the other hand we
do experience real freedom and we make our choices between various options.
In modern terminology people use the terms "nature" and "nurture".
The truth is that neither everything that we do is by nature, i.e. we are born
with it; nor every thing is by nurture.
The truth is that we are free and we are determined both at the same time. Nature
and nurture both work in our lives. Our freedom is limited, nevertheless it
does exist and it is the deciding factor for our responsibility and consequently
for the eternal reward or punishment.
In the Qur'an Allah has spoken about His control and power as well as human
freedom and responsibility. Both aspects are very clearly mentioned in the Qur'an.
The best way to understand and interpret the Qur'an is to keep both of these
aspect in mind. We should not emphasize our freedom at the expense of Allah's
power and knowledge, nor should we speak about Allah's power and knowledge by
negating and denying our own freedom and responsibility. Maulana Maududi -may
Allah bless his soul- in his book Qada and Qadar (in Urdu) collected both types
of verses from the Qur'an. Following a selection of these Qur'anic statements.
On Allah's power and control, see the following verses:
All power belongs to Allah (al-Baqarah 2:165). Say, Allah is the Creator of
all things, and He is the One the Mighty (al-Ra'd 13:16). Allah has created
you and all that you do (al-Saffat 37:96). No female conceives, nor does she
bring forth a child save with His knowledge. And no one is granted long life,
not is anything diminished of its life, but it is all recorded in a book...
(al-Fatir 35:11). No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is
recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence. That is truly easy for
Allah. In order that you may not despair over matters that pass you by, not
exult over favors bestowed upon you. For Allah loves not any vainglorious boaster"
(al-Hadid 57:22-23). To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. He
enlarges the provisions for whomsoever He pleases and straitens it for whomsoever
He pleases. Surely He knows all things full well (al-Shura 42:12). And say not
of anything, 'I shall do it tomorrow', unless Allah wills... (al-Kahf 18:23-24).
If Allah touch you with affliction there is none to remove it but He; and if
He touch you with happiness, then He has power to do all that He wills (al-An'am
6:17). Whom Allah will, He lets go astray, and whom He wills, He places on the
right path (al-An'am 6:39). Do you desire to guide him whom Allah has caused
to perish? And for him whom Allah causes to perish you shall not find a way
(al-Nisa' 4:88). If your Lord has enforced His will, surely, all those who are
on the earth would have believed together. Will you then force people to become
believers? And none can believe except by the permission of Allah (Yunus 10:99-100).
But on the human freedom and responsibility read the following verses: Neither
according to your desires, nor according to the desires of the People of the
Book, whosoever will do evil will be requited accordingly and shall not find
beside Allah any protector or helper. If any do deeds of righteousness, be they
male or female, and have faith, they will enter heaven and not the least injustice
will be done to them (al-Nisa' 4:123-124). This because Allah does never change
a favor that He has conferred upon a people until they change their own condition...
(al-Anfal 9:53). Every person stands pledged for what he has earned (al-Tur
52:21). It is the truth from your Lord; wherefore let his who will, believe,
and let him who will, disbelieve (al-Kahf 18:29). This is a reminder. So let
him, who will, take a way unto his Lord (al-Muzzammil 73:19). And hasten towards
forgiveness from your Lord... (Al 'Imran 3:133). O our people, respond to God's
summoner and believe in him (al-Ahqaf 46:31). Turn to your Lord and submit yourselves
to Him... (al-Zumar 39:54). Corruption has spread on land and sea because of
what people's hands have wrought (al-rum 30:41). Whatever misfortune befalls
you is the consequence of what your own hands have wrought. And Allah forgive
many of your sins (al-Shura 42:30). Indeed Allah does not wrong the people at
all, it is they wrong their own selves (Yunus 10:44). As for Thamud, We guided
them, but they preferred blindness to guidance (Fussilat 41:17). There is no
compulsion in religion. Surely the right way has become distinct from error
(al-Baqarah 2:256).
The Qur'an has no contradictions. Allah's power and knowledge and human freedom
are not mutually exclusive. Whatever freedom we have is granted to us by Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala and we should use it to submit to Him freely and willingly.
This is the honor that Allah has given us and for this honor angels were asked
by Allah to bow in respect and honor of the progenitor of the human race Adam
-may the peace of Allah be upon him.