QURAN ON DESTINY

Highly Logical Concept Of Destiny & Freewill In The Quran

The Freedom Of Man In Setting His Destination

Throughout history, there are lengthy debates on determinism and free will. Some follow the first school of thought others follow the second one. Now the answer is that reality is in between. That means man has a free will in the matter of his actions, although his free will is by divine decree. As per Quran, God is the ultimate and independent cause of all causes, so it is correct to relate all that exists to God. Similarly, because God has granted man free will in his actions, it is also correct to relate the actions of man to his own choice.

When a chosen slave of God was asked this question by a man” What is Fate ?” he said,” Lift your one foot in the air.” the man did so. he then said,” Now lift the other one.” (while being in the same position) the man replied,” I cannot” he said,” This is the answer to your question. Half of it God has given to you in your hand, and the rest He has kept to Himself.” So in other words, Man is free to will what he wills but he cannot will what he wills. That is man is free to do a task a job in whatever manner he likes but to choose/reach and come across to that job is beyond his control.

When another chosen slave of God asked this question, he replied “Whatever that you could blame man for it, is his action and whatever you could not blame him for it, is the act of God. God blames man for stealing, committing adultery etc. Thus, these are the acts of man. However, God does not blame man why he is not born rich or why his skin colour is black or fair. Thus, these are the acts of God.”

Do Not Blame Your Destiny

O people therefore do not blame your destiny. It is actually only a few things that are determined, which are mainly related to your birth, parents and the place and atmosphere where you born. Most of the things are in your hand and with effort and struggle you can even change your capacities, capabilities and lastly your destiny. Remember, most of the great men in human history were born to poor parents and in unfavourable conditions. But with their courage, dedication and struggle they changed not only their fate but the fate of all of humanity.

Also keep in mind that your Lord is so just that in any case in the hereafter He will judge you after considering all the factors around you and will not reward or punish you only on your accounts. And above all, as I discussed in detail in part 2 the life of this world is like a blink of an eye so this small time of affliction is nothing as compared to the life which is waiting for you ahead.

٤٩ أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ ۚ بَلِ اللَّهُ يُزَكِّي مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا

Have you not seen those who claim themselves to be pure? Rather, Allah purifies whom He wills, and injustice is not done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed]. (Surah Nisa 4:49)

١٦٠ مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا ۖ وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَىٰ إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof [to his credit], and whoever comes with an evil deed will not be recompensed except the like thereof; and they will not be wronged. (Surah Anam 6:160)

A Universe Of Possibilities

This Universe He made is so mysterious that you cannot grasp the whole wisdom behind its creation. God has made for you choices and options which pop up every second, and He has given you free will to choose among these options. It is a world, a universe of possibilities. So don’t blame your destiny only. A slave can become a Ruler, a weak can become the strongest person, an ignorant can become the most wise.

A world of possibilities where anyone can reach to any level. It’s just a matter of how big a person thinks and how accurately he acts upon that. And above that, a huge mercy of your Lord is the promise of hereafter so that those who could have not successfully utilized their options here and are not wrongdoers they will have peace and pleasure. They will have there whatever they ask and whatever their soul desire. What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor the heart of any man imagined.

١٧ فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَا أُخْفِيَ لَهُمْ مِنْ قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do. (Surah Sajdah 32:17)

…….. وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنْفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ

…….And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you ask. (Surah Fussilat 41:31)

Do We Have Free Will? The Nature of Divine Providence

O mankind, you always get confused because you think that as God knows everything and it is already written therefore you have no free will. Therefore mankind mostly blames their destiny for all the mishaps they get in their lives. O people this Universe is a universe of possibilities where anyone can reach to any level. God has made for you choices and options which pop up every second and God’s ability of knowing your future does not in any way restricting you from acting as a Free Agent in this Universe.

Adam & Devil: Different Reaction Different Outcome

Same thing Devil did when Adam and all others were caught red handed after their mistake in the climax of that episode in Eden. Rather than accepting his jealousy, arrogance, and mistake he put the blame on destiny. In Quran God tells in Adams story that Devil said, “My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make disobedience attractive to them on earth, and I will mislead them all. So Devil put all his blame on God or destiny while Adams reaction was opposite and he repent and asked forgiveness for his error.

As devil is with us all human beings and Jinns so whenever we blame destiny and God’s act is because of that evil suggestion devil put in our heart. So you blame destiny only when you fails or events things go against you. You never blame destiny when you gets good.

٣٩ قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

[Devil/Satan] said, “My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on earth, and I will mislead them all. (Surah Hijr 15:39)

٢٣ قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

They said (Adam & his Wife), “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.” (Surah Araf 7:23)

Is It That A Criminal Is A Criminal Because God Has Already Written For Him?

Now because God always says in His scriptures like in the Quran God said “And you do not will except that God wills Lord of the worlds”. This should not be confused for Example with the case of a person going to kill someone. Now God has written for him that he would be a killer but that does not mean He made him to kill that person. Its only that God by His will gave us the liberty to decide between our options and choose them. If you want guidance He will guide you.

…….٧٩ مَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِنْ نَفْسِكَ ۚ

What comes to you of good is from Allah, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself…… (Surah Nisa 4:79)

God Facilitates You In Whatever Direction You Want To Go.

How it happens lets consider another example, God has made for you choices and options which pop up every second and He has given you free will to choose among these options. Consider you are sitting in a library or at your home with your laptop and surfing on internet. Now as per God’s revelations and scriptures first part of effort you have to put and then God will help you. Now if you decide to read or to see some stuff some book some video, who can force you not to read or watch that. And you also have full liberty to see search good things or Bad things available. But after you exercise your option and decide to consume that time in some good work either related to your education or your religion God facilitates you in that and you may come across some very good stuff which later might change your way of thinking and even your life. God facilitates you in whatever direction you want to go. This is the basis of all inventions in human history all people who are struggling in some field got new ideas just like a blink of an eye. This would never happen without putting any effort on your part. So it’s Actually God’s will and human effort that work together in this Universe of yours. Same principal is for prophets and righteous. They got God’s help after they put all their effort. Red sea parted when Moses struggled and of 80 years of age. Madina became islamic state after continuous struggle of decades and when Muhammad was 53 years old.

…… وَفَتَنَّاكَ فُتُونًا ۚ ……. ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَىٰ قَدَرٍ يَا مُوسَىٰ

………and We tried you with various trials……Then you reached at the decreed (level and time), O Moses. (Surah Taha 20:40)

Consider An Example

Now consider you are an owner of a business and you have 20 employees. One day you announce that you will give a Cash prize to those 10 persons who perform certain tasks and targets more than others. Now as you have those employees with you since few years and you know all of them very well, you write in your notepad the name of those ten in advance who will win that prize. And by the end of that task it happens that they are exactly the same as you have already written in your notepad. I ask you a question that by writing this does by any means you have favored them to win or restricted the chances of others. But actually those whose names you have already written as the winners are the employees that do the right things, hard work and sincere effort anyway whether you give the incentive of prize or not. While the others are the ones who actually don’t do anything to deserve that, regardless you write their names or not.

Another example now consider one of your friend gets a time machine he goes in future and look all your life till end then comes back and writes a book on you. Now doest it mean he restricted your free will and forced you to do those actions he has written in the book.

With Authority Comes The Responsibilities

I know that these analogies have many short comings as God is omniscient and omnipotent and He not only knows your future but also overall dominant on your will as he created you and all the abilities you have got are actually granted by Him. And these are the actual limitations and therefore everyone will be accounted for only that much which he has been bestowed with, not more than that. A person responsible for a small house will not be held accountable for the matters, wrongdoings, injustice and corruption going in the town. Thats why it is a serious matter and big burden if someone has got a position in society as with authority comes the responsibilities.

………Surely, every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. (Bukhari 6719, Muslim 1829)

God Has Made For You Choices And Options Which Pop Up Every Second

O mankind your Lord does not punish people on their first sins. He gives them chance to repent. It is not actually the sin, wrongdoing or injustice that is bad in the eyes of your Lord but it is its repetition. Repeating a wrong act again and again, not repenting and not feeling it wrong is what is bad. O people it is a world, a universe of possibilities where anyone can reach to any level.

…….رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا 

……Our Lord, You have not created all this in falsehood (aimlessly) (Surah Ale Imran 3:191)

The Freedom To Do Otherwise

God has made for you choices and options which pop up every second and He has given you free will to choose among these options. There is no limit. If you are a poor person or even a slave, you can become a king a ruler. O people if you are feeling miserable and feel yourself in a vicious cycle from where there is no way out just start doing one thing only. Start choosing every moment those options which are best in terms of morality. Don’t consider even for a second at those options which you think are good to achieve your purpose but have something morally wrong in them. Your Lord has made this Universe like that. If you choose morally wrong options He will only punish you when you keep on doing its repetition and if you choose right options He will soon take you out of misery and vicious cycle and will send His Blessings from where you would have not imagined.

٦ وَمَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ

And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register. (Surah Hud 11:6)

Consider An Example: Options Theory

To understand it more I give you an example consider that you are sitting with your wife and as you have free will and options all the time. You utilize the option of moving your hand and it happens that it touches your wife’s eye and hurt her. Now as soon as it happens another set of options and choices open up for you that either admit your mistake and ask her sorry or another option to say that it was her fault why she brought her face near your hand, or to become more irrational and react in anger, so on and so forth. If you choose the first option that matter closes as such with good impression of yours in her mind and some other matter starts simultaneously. But if you select second or third option the next outcome most probably will be that she will react and may be start arguing with you saying that you are an ill mannered person and you end up in abusing her. Keeping it short and just for understanding this example and the concept, you may ask her to leave your home. She starts weeping and crying. Now a set of other options and choices open up for you either you now realize your mistake and say sorry or remain stubborn and keep on repeating the wrong thing. If you choose the first option then that matter closes as such and some other matter starts simultaneously.

Every Choice Of Yours Creates A New Universe

But if you select the second option that is again a morally wrong option, a new scenario will pop up out of it. She leaves the house and maybe that matter ends up on divorce. Again many options for you but if you keep on choosing the wrong one it will end up on divorce. Then see you have a totally different world in front of your eyes in which you are in deep pain and lonely and have a feel of guilt in your heart. So you would have a punishment here and as well as in the hereafter. You can clearly see that you have not been punished on the wrong act but on its repetition. This example can be taken both ways with wife as an aggressor. As these days women also do much wrong.

٣٠ وَمَا أَصَابَكُمْ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَنْ كَثِيرٍ

And whatever strikes you of disaster – it is for what your hands have earned; And He pardons much. Quran Surah Shura 42:30

Human Freedom And Denial Of Determinism

To make it simple for you, I named it “Options Theory”. And it’s not a theory it is a law governing this Universe of yours and later in next programs, I will give you proofs and verses from the Holy scriptures which actually you totally misunderstood.

A Universe Of Possibilities: Think Bigger

This Universe God has made is so mysterious that you cannot grasp the whole wisdom behind its creation. God has created for you choices and options which pop up every second and He has given you free will to choose among these options. It is a world, a universe of possibilities. So don’t blame your destiny only. A slave can become a ruler, a weak can become the strongest person, an ignorant can become the most wise. A world of possibilities where anyone can reach to any level. Its just a matter of how big a person thinks and how accurately he acts upon that. And above that a huge mercy of your Lord is the promise of hereafter so that those who have not successfully utilized their options here and are not wrongdoers they will have peace and pleasure. They will have there whatever they ask and whatever their soul desire. What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor the heart of any man imagined.

٣ وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا

And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent. (Surah Talaq 65:3)

The affairs of a believer is strange that there is no divine decree about him but eventually it will be to his benefit.” If he gets some blessing then he thanks God and thus there is good for him, and if he is harmed, then he shows patience and thus there is good for him.

The Key To success

Most Of The Things Are In Your Hands:

O people you are not here in this Universe helpless before a cruel determined unchanging fate. Most of the things are in your hand and with effort and struggle you can change your capacities, capabilities and even your destiny. O people our responsibility is to do struggle to put our effort and then to pray and ask for God’s help. We are just responsible for the effort not for the results, leave results on God. O people you are actually a free agent in this Universe having your own choice to draw, sow, propagate and grow whatever you like to draw and grow in this canvas in this soil of universal opportunities. Divine vicegerency, eternal life of peace and pleasure or Eternal despair whatever outcome you like, it is in your hands. As I told you about the gift of options from your Lord popping for you every moment and the way to utilize these thus everything is actually possible for you provided you have will and you take an initiative.

Many Paths, Many Destinies And Many Universes

O mankind there is scope for many possibilities, many paths, many destinies and many worlds for you. What matters is only what options you pick every second when they pop up with the changing moments. The options you pick will lead to that kind of destiny. If you are feeling miserable and feel yourself in a vicious cycle from where there is no way out, then do just two things. First pray your Lord for another destiny as there is no limit of destinies with your Lord its already woven in the fabric of this cosmos, this Universe of yours so after pray start doing one thing only I.e every moment choose morally right options whenever they pop up. If you do this and change yourself, your destiny stands changed.

 لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ وَالٍ

For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah. Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron. (Surah Rad 13:11)