format_quote Originally Posted by
AlexIslam
Salaam.
I have a question regarding islam and free will.
This is something that has confused me a lot and i need some people's opinions on this.
In islam we believe God knows every action we WILL make. But if we have free will, and God knows what actions we will take... Then what is the point of this test of life? God knows what the outcome of our life in the end?
Its something that confuses me a lot.
Can someone clear this up for me
Thanks
Asalaamu Alaikum, The following answers your question:
Yes, we can say that Allah Willed me to do x, y, and also z. Nothing moves or is brought to rest, except by the Power of Allah, in accordance with that which His Will specified and what He knew with His Knowledge.
Realizing this is key to the perfection of ones faith.
This is why the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) asked one of the Companions, Shall I not guide you to words that are a treasure from the treasures of Paradise? He said, Indeed, O Messenger of Allah!
The Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said, There is no ability or power except through Allah (la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah).
[Bukhari (3883); Muslim (4873), and others]
Allah tells us this clearly in the Quran:
Allah hath created you and what you do.
[Quran, 37.96]
And:
Lo! this is an Admonishment, that whosoever will may choose a way unto his Lord. Yet you will not, unless Allah wills. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise. He makes whom He will to enter His mercy, and for evil-doers hath prepared a painful doom.
[Quran, 76.29-31]
Moral Responsibility
However, it is at the same time true that Allah has made us morally responsible for our acts and it is we who shall be questioned about the choices we made.
Allah tells us that,
We shall question, every one, of what they used to do.
[Quran, 15.92-93]
And:
He will not be questioned as to that which He does, but they will be questioned.
[Quran, 21.23]
Great Islamic theologians said: Allah has willed that you act based on choice.
As for how this works, it is beyond the understanding of the intellect.
It is important to understand, too, that Allah is as unconditioned by time as He is unconditioned by space: both are His creation, and He is beyond both. As such, Allahs Knowledge, Will, and Power relate to things beyond time. He knows the result from before the match ever happened.
As such, Allahs Knowledge relates to all things necessary, possible, and impossible from pre-eternality. Allahs Will specified some of that which is possible with particulars in pre-eternality, in accordance with His Knowledge. His Power brings things into temporal existence, in accordance to that which His Will specified
The way to understand this is to enlighten ones heart, mind, and soul with remembrance of Allah and recital of His Book with contemplation.
Allah tells us,
Is not the time ripe for the hearts of those who believe to submit to Allahs reminder and to the truth which is revealed, that they become not as those who received the scripture of old but the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened, and many of them are evil-livers. Know that Allah quickens the earth after its death. We have made clear Our revelations for you, that haply you may understand. Lo! those who give alms, both men and women, and lend unto Allah a goodly loan, it will be doubled for them, and theirs will be a rich reward.
And those who believe in Allah and His messengers, they are the loyal, and the martyrs are with their Lord; they have their reward and their light; while as for those who disbelieve and deny Our revelations, they are owners of hell-fire.
[Quran, 57.16-19]
And Allah alone gives success.
Source: http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=7&ID=10927