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Islamic Studies - Lecture Slides - Module 6 - Predestination and Freewill

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6 views

Islamic Studies - Lecture Slides - Module 6 - Predestination and Freewill

Uploaded by

hafizazib111
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Predestination and Freewill

Issue of Human Fate


The Dimension of Imaan (Beliefs)
• The discipline of Islamic Sciences in which the beliefs are
studied is known as Ilm al-Kalam or Islamic Theology

• Ilm al-Kalam: because in the initial phase of Islamic history the


debate about the true nature of Qur’an became a major issue of
debate among Muslim scholars.

• Theology: Theo-- refers to God and --logy means study


The Reality of Islam
• Characteristic feature of Islam: Sami‘na wa ata‘na (We listened and we
obeyed)
‫َوَقاُلوْا َس ِمْعَنا َوَأَطْعَنا‬
And they say: We have listen, and we obey. [Al-Baqara: 285]

• Then why did Muslims engage in debates which were sometimes unnecessary?
Conquests of Alexander of Macedon: Greeks’
Cultural Presence in the Muslim Lands
Understanding the Context of the Development of
Islamic Theology

• Influence of Greek philosophy on some Muslims

• Philosophical method: Reasoning and Speculation

• There was a need to articulate Islamic beliefs which were under


scrutiny from philosophers.
Transcendental Nature of God
• Issue of human fate is an issue of the Attributes of Allah (S.W.T) and
therefore cannot be perfectly grasped by human intelligence.

• Allah (S.W.T) has given the humans a limited share from His
Infinite Attributes.

• Allah (S.W.T) is Infinitely Merciful. Humans also have the


characteristic of mercy, but to a limited extent.
Human Beings are Given a Reflection of Some of the
Attributes of Allah (S.W.T)
• Allah (S.W.T) has bestowed the humans with another of His Attributes, again – to a limited
extent.
‫ِإَّن الله َعَلى ُكِّل َش ْي ٍء َقِدير‬
Indeed Allah is Able to do all things. [Al-Baqara: 20]

• This attribute is ‫قدرة‬: the will and the ability to do things.

• But humans have this attribute to a VERY VERY LIMITED extent.


Many Misunderstood the Extent of ‫ قدرة‬Given to the Humans
• Two Extreme Views on Human Fate / Human Will
• Qadar: Absolute Free Will

‫َوُقِل اْلَح ُّق ِمن َّر ِّبُكْم َفَمن َش اء َفْلُيْؤِمن َوَمن َش اء َفْلَيْكُفْر‬
And say: “The truth [has now come] from your Sustainer: let, then, him who wills,
believe in it, and let him who wills, reject it.” [Al-Kahaf: 29]

• Jabar: Absolute Predestination


‫ُيِضُّل ِبِه َكِثيرًا َوَيْهِدي ِبِه َكِثيرًا َوَما ُيِضُّل ِبِه ِإَّال اْلَفاِسِقيَن‬
He causes many to stray and many He leads into the right path but He causes not to stray
except those who forsake (the path). [Al-Baqara: 26]
Point of View Held by the Majority of Scholars
• There is a need to understand three points in the issue of human fate:

– Knowledge of Human Actions (‫)علم‬


• Allah (S.W.T) alone has perfect knowledge of human actions whether they belong to the past, the present or the future.

– Creation of Human Actions (‫)خلق‬


• Allah (S.W.T) is the creator of all the means that the humans need to do every single action.
• Everything, including our bones, muscles, veins, blood circulation, every single thing we can think about is the creation of
Allah (S.W.T)

– Acquisition of Human Actions (‫)كسب‬


• This is where the attribute of ‫ قدرة‬comes.
• Allah (S.W.T) has given the humans the ability to choose their actions.
Knowledge, Creation and Acquisition
• Knowledge and Creation of Allah (S.W.T) does not undermine the choice, will
and acquisition of the humans.

• Example: A teacher creates a system to evaluate the students. Both A-grade


and F-grade are also a part of this system created by the teacher. And
sometimes the teacher has an idea about a particular student whether he is
going to get an A or an F. But in spite of all this the student still has a choice to
study hard and get a better grade. If the student does not study hard and gets an
F in the final exam, he cannot and should not blame the teacher.
Words Mentioned in the Qur’an to Indicate Human Part in Actions:

• Use of the Word ‘Choice’ or ‘Will’ (‫ )مشيئة‬in the Qur’an:

َ ‫ُقِل اْلَح ُّق ِمن َّر ِّبُكْم َفَمن َش اء َفْلُيْؤِمن َوَمن َش اء َفْلَيْكُفْر‬
And say: “The truth [has now come] from your Sustainer: let, then, him who wills, believe in it, and let
him who wills, reject it.” [Al-Kahaf: 29]

‫ِإَّن َهِذِه َتْذِكَر ٌة َفَمن َش اء اَّتَخ َذ ِإَلى َر ِّبِه َس ِبياًل‬


This, verily, is a reminder: let him who wills, then set out on a way to his Sustainer! [Al-Muzammil:
19]
Words Mentioned in the Qur’an to Indicate Human Part in Actions

• Use of the Word ‘acquisition’ or ‘earning’ (‫)كسب‬


‫َواَّتُقوْا َيْوًما ُتْر َجُعوَن ِفيِه ِإَلى الّلِه ُثَّم ُتَوَّفى ُكُّل َنْفٍس َّما َكَس َبْت َوُهْم َال ُيْظَلُموَن‬
And be conscious of the Day on which you shall be brought back unto God,
whereupon every human being shall be repaid in full for what he has earned, and
none shall be wronged . [Al-Baqara: 281]

‫َأ‬ ‫يـَئ َفُأ‬ ‫َأ‬


‫َبَلى َمن َكَس َب َس ِّيَئًة َو َح ْت ِبِه َخ ِط ُتُه ْو ِئ ْصَح ُب َّن ِر ُهْم ِف َه َخ ِلُد َن‬
‫و‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ال‬ ‫ا‬ ‫َك‬ ‫ـ‬‫َل‬ ‫َط‬ ‫ا‬
Indeed! Those who earn evil and by their sinfulness are engulfed - they are
destined for the fire. therein to abide; [Al-Baqara: 81]
Because of Human Choice Actions Are Attributed to the Humans

‫َل‬ ‫ًة‬ ‫َط‬ ‫ًة‬ ‫ا‬ ‫َل‬‫َف‬ ‫ْؤ‬ ‫ُه‬ ‫ى‬‫َث‬ ‫ن‬‫َع َل اِل ا ن َذَك َأ ُأ‬
‫َّن‬
‫َي‬ ‫ْج‬
‫َو ِز ُهْم‬ ‫َن‬ ‫َب‬
‫ِّي‬ ‫َحَي‬ ‫َّن‬
‫َي‬
‫ِي ُه‬ ‫ْح‬‫ُن‬ ‫ِم‬
‫َو َو ُم ٌن‬ ‫ٍر ْو‬ ‫َمْن ِم َص ًح ِّم‬
‫ُل‬ ‫ْا‬ ‫َك‬ ‫َأ‬ ‫َأ‬
‫ْج َر ُهم ِب ْح َس ِن َما اُنو َيْعَم وَن‬

As for anyone - be it man or woman - who does righteous deeds, and is a


believer withal - him shall We most certainly cause to live a good life, and most
certainly shall We grant unto such as these their reward in accordance with the
best that they ever did. [Sura al-Nahal: 97]

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