A great debatable topic with various dynamic aspects of human intellectualism and of different religions and cultures…
Our great Imam Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III had said in 1902 Delhi, India…
“…The fourth cause of the general apathy of modern times which we are considering is undoubtedly the doctrine of necessity. No fair or reasonable-minded person who has read the Koran can for a moment doubt that freedom of the will and individual human responsibility is there insisted upon, but Abul Hassan Alashari (a direct descendant of that Abu Musa who was respons-ible for the fiasco at the arbitration at Doomah) - Abul Hassan, whose piety and learning and genius cannot be doubted – has placed the stamp of his unfortunately misapplied but great genius on Islam and given to Moslem thought that fatal fatalism which discourages effort and which has undoubtedly been one of the principal causes of the non-aggressive spirit of modern Islam. It was not till about the year 200 A.H. that the question of Jabr or Taqdeer, i.e., freedom of the will or necessity, began first to agitate Moslem thought. Had the matter come before the world of Islam during the Caliphate of some good and virtuous Caliph who was universally respected, and whose piety and faith were beyond doubt (such, for instance, as the saintly and exemplary Omar-ibn-e Abdul Aziz) an authoritative judgment in favour of freedom of the will would have finally laid this question at rest, but unluckily this true doctrine of Islam found, for its champion, Mamoon. Now, Mamoon's extraordinary ideas and very curious behaviour towards some principles of the Shariat had made the pious suspicious, and the very fact that Mamoon was the champion of the doctrine of the freedom of the will was enough to make the pious prejudiced against all those who held, and rightly held, that this was a fundamental doctrine and that no society that accepted fatalism and carried it to its logical conclusion could possibly succeed. It is the fashion to place all the responsi-bility for the downfall of Islam to Chengiz and the Tartar invasion…”
I was wondering about what the North American Ismailies’ attitude is like on this…as I have noticed a lot of us, on lot of occasions, blame the things and events on the so called “ Qismat”…or “Taqdeer” or something like that, specially the people of older generation.
Fatalism
It seems like most people here are not very interested in this topic, which in my view is very critical and important matter to understand, not just as Muslims but as human beings…
At least, I got a private message sent to me from, probably, a Christian fellow on this…I will post that message here and hope he/she does not mind that…and I thank him/her.
"In Christianity we believe predestination and free-will. That is that God from before the foundation of the world has foreordained things,events and etc etc. which will take place. It is not my qismat or fate which is the object of God's foreordination but HIS ACTIVE DELIGHT.
In christianity we also believe that we human beings have free will, meaning that God does not compell you to do which HE has foreordained or predestined. But whatever we will do with our free will, we will accomplish same thing which God has predestined !!.
One may ask question HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE THAT WE DO THE SAME THING BY OUR OWN FREE WILL AND ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING GOD HAS PREDESTINED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD?
My answer would be I DO NOT KNOW !! God is not limited to my understanding. When it comes to God's understanding and wisdom, we are like a bug. God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and his ways are higher than ours. Here is the biblical verse on it:----
ISAIAH 55:
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Below is the BIBLICAL TRUTH of how Jews killed Jesus by their own free will and still it was God's plan they accomplished foreordained 8 thousands years agao.
ACTS :
22"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."
As you can see that it was God's SET PURPOSE to have Jesus be crucified. But also notice that no one FORCED JEWS, grabed them by the neck and asked them to drive the nails in Jesus' hands and feet. Jews did this crime willingly and very joyfully."
At least, I got a private message sent to me from, probably, a Christian fellow on this…I will post that message here and hope he/she does not mind that…and I thank him/her.
"In Christianity we believe predestination and free-will. That is that God from before the foundation of the world has foreordained things,events and etc etc. which will take place. It is not my qismat or fate which is the object of God's foreordination but HIS ACTIVE DELIGHT.
In christianity we also believe that we human beings have free will, meaning that God does not compell you to do which HE has foreordained or predestined. But whatever we will do with our free will, we will accomplish same thing which God has predestined !!.
One may ask question HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE THAT WE DO THE SAME THING BY OUR OWN FREE WILL AND ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING GOD HAS PREDESTINED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD?
My answer would be I DO NOT KNOW !! God is not limited to my understanding. When it comes to God's understanding and wisdom, we are like a bug. God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and his ways are higher than ours. Here is the biblical verse on it:----
ISAIAH 55:
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Below is the BIBLICAL TRUTH of how Jews killed Jesus by their own free will and still it was God's plan they accomplished foreordained 8 thousands years agao.
ACTS :
22"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."
As you can see that it was God's SET PURPOSE to have Jesus be crucified. But also notice that no one FORCED JEWS, grabed them by the neck and asked them to drive the nails in Jesus' hands and feet. Jews did this crime willingly and very joyfully."
-
shiraz.virani
- Posts: 1256
- Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 2:52 pm
Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said: “Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy [name]?” He said: “I know what ye know not” (Al-Baqarah 2:30).
The question asked by the angels is about “the risk involved” (I say this just to make things clear; and may Allah forgive me!): that the freedom given to Man would mean mischief and bloodshed. This suggests that when humans are given freedom, there is the chance of their misusing that freedom for doing wrong. It is because of this freedom that Allah can punish us. If He had not given us freedom, then there is no question of punishment because Allah is All-Just. It is clearly said in the Qur’an that Allah will not do the least bit of injustice. The Qur’an says what means:
The word changes not before Me, and I do not the least injustice to My servants (Qaf 50:29).
And again:
Whoever has done an atom’s weight of good shall get its reward and whoever has done an atom’s weight of evil shall meet with its consequences (Az-Zalzalah 99:7-8).
Everything is accounted for, and nothing is wasted in Allah’s scheme of things. Allah, out of His infinite mercy, has given Man guidance too, to help him use his freedom and faculties to his own benefit and live a meaningful life here. Allah wants Man to use the freedom given in accordance with His guidance. In other words, the scope and potential of Man’s freedom is within the framework of God’s jurisdiction and control. For this reason, we may say that Man is not a master of his fate; nor is he a mere cog in the wheel of destiny.
You ask, “If we are destined to fail, then why do we pray to Allah to achieve success?”
The answer is: Allah knows what is going to happen in your case. But as far as you are concerned, your success or failure depends on so many factors. Some of these factors are at your disposal; Allah has willed it to be so. Some other factors are out of your control. You pray to Allah because Allah can hear your prayer and answer it, and if He wills it, He can remove those factors that may cause your failure so that you will be successful. It is not reasonable for you to say that the results will be the same whether you study or not; and you do not know the results in advance. Allah has said in the Qur’an that He will not waste the good work done by anyone. Allah is Ever-Active and Watchful; remember that.
Also note that Allah says in the Qur’an what means:
Allah will never change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves (Ar-Ra`d 13:11).
This underscores our role here on earth. In fact, taqdir as used in the Qur’an stands for the latent possibilities Allah has invested in the nature of things; and it does not imply denying human beings the freedom of will or action. We must be humble enough to acknowledge our need for divine guidance to protect ourselves from doing wrong things, to keep ourselves upright and steady in times of trials.
Thus from the Islamic point of view, it is our willful choice of the right actions from a number of inherent possibilities that earns us our reward from Allah Almighty. And the right actions are exactly those actions in conformity with divine guidance. So we must always strive to make our choices and actions be in harmony with the guidance of Allah Almighty.
salam
yaa ali madad
The question asked by the angels is about “the risk involved” (I say this just to make things clear; and may Allah forgive me!): that the freedom given to Man would mean mischief and bloodshed. This suggests that when humans are given freedom, there is the chance of their misusing that freedom for doing wrong. It is because of this freedom that Allah can punish us. If He had not given us freedom, then there is no question of punishment because Allah is All-Just. It is clearly said in the Qur’an that Allah will not do the least bit of injustice. The Qur’an says what means:
The word changes not before Me, and I do not the least injustice to My servants (Qaf 50:29).
And again:
Whoever has done an atom’s weight of good shall get its reward and whoever has done an atom’s weight of evil shall meet with its consequences (Az-Zalzalah 99:7-8).
Everything is accounted for, and nothing is wasted in Allah’s scheme of things. Allah, out of His infinite mercy, has given Man guidance too, to help him use his freedom and faculties to his own benefit and live a meaningful life here. Allah wants Man to use the freedom given in accordance with His guidance. In other words, the scope and potential of Man’s freedom is within the framework of God’s jurisdiction and control. For this reason, we may say that Man is not a master of his fate; nor is he a mere cog in the wheel of destiny.
You ask, “If we are destined to fail, then why do we pray to Allah to achieve success?”
The answer is: Allah knows what is going to happen in your case. But as far as you are concerned, your success or failure depends on so many factors. Some of these factors are at your disposal; Allah has willed it to be so. Some other factors are out of your control. You pray to Allah because Allah can hear your prayer and answer it, and if He wills it, He can remove those factors that may cause your failure so that you will be successful. It is not reasonable for you to say that the results will be the same whether you study or not; and you do not know the results in advance. Allah has said in the Qur’an that He will not waste the good work done by anyone. Allah is Ever-Active and Watchful; remember that.
Also note that Allah says in the Qur’an what means:
Allah will never change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves (Ar-Ra`d 13:11).
This underscores our role here on earth. In fact, taqdir as used in the Qur’an stands for the latent possibilities Allah has invested in the nature of things; and it does not imply denying human beings the freedom of will or action. We must be humble enough to acknowledge our need for divine guidance to protect ourselves from doing wrong things, to keep ourselves upright and steady in times of trials.
Thus from the Islamic point of view, it is our willful choice of the right actions from a number of inherent possibilities that earns us our reward from Allah Almighty. And the right actions are exactly those actions in conformity with divine guidance. So we must always strive to make our choices and actions be in harmony with the guidance of Allah Almighty.
salam
yaa ali madad
-
shiraz.virani
- Posts: 1256
- Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 2:52 pm
“Lo! This is an Admonishment, that whosoever will may choose a way unto his Lord. Yet ye will not, unless Allah willeth. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise.” (Al-Insan: 29-30)
Allah says, “Had Allah willed, He would have brought them all together to the guidance; if thy Lord had willed whoever is in the earth would have believed, all of them, all together.” (Yunus: 99) “Had Allah willed, they were not idolaters; and We have not appointed thee a watcher over them neither art thou their guardian.” (Al-An`am: 107)
But Allah has willed that men shall be free especially in regard to matters of belief and disbelief. Allah Almighty says, “Say: The truth is from your Lord; so let whosoever will believe, and let whosoever will disbelieve.” (Al-Kahf: 29)
But men would not be so free if whenever any of them wills to do evil Allah prevents him from doing it and compels him to do good.
“If our actions are willed by Allah,” someone might say, “then they are in fact His actions.”
This objection is based on a confusion that Allah wills what we will in the sense of granting us the will to choose and enabling us to execute that will, i.e., He creates all that makes it possible for us to do it. He does not will it in the sense of doing it, otherwise it would be quite in order to say, when we drink or eat or sleep for instance that Allah performed these actions. Allah creates them, He does not do or perform them.
Another objection, based on another confusion, is that if Allah allows us to do evil, then He approves of it and likes it.
However, to will something in the sense of allowing a person to do it is one thing; and to approve of his action and commend it, is quite another, NOT everything that Allah wills He likes. He has, as we have just read in the Qur’an, granted man the choice between belief and disbelief, but He does not, of course, like men to disbelieve (to be thankless). Allah Almighty says, “If you art ungrateful, Allah is independent of you. Yet He approves not ungratefulness in His servants; but if you are grateful, He will approve it in you.” (Az-Zumar: 7)”
Allah says, “Had Allah willed, He would have brought them all together to the guidance; if thy Lord had willed whoever is in the earth would have believed, all of them, all together.” (Yunus: 99) “Had Allah willed, they were not idolaters; and We have not appointed thee a watcher over them neither art thou their guardian.” (Al-An`am: 107)
But Allah has willed that men shall be free especially in regard to matters of belief and disbelief. Allah Almighty says, “Say: The truth is from your Lord; so let whosoever will believe, and let whosoever will disbelieve.” (Al-Kahf: 29)
But men would not be so free if whenever any of them wills to do evil Allah prevents him from doing it and compels him to do good.
“If our actions are willed by Allah,” someone might say, “then they are in fact His actions.”
This objection is based on a confusion that Allah wills what we will in the sense of granting us the will to choose and enabling us to execute that will, i.e., He creates all that makes it possible for us to do it. He does not will it in the sense of doing it, otherwise it would be quite in order to say, when we drink or eat or sleep for instance that Allah performed these actions. Allah creates them, He does not do or perform them.
Another objection, based on another confusion, is that if Allah allows us to do evil, then He approves of it and likes it.
However, to will something in the sense of allowing a person to do it is one thing; and to approve of his action and commend it, is quite another, NOT everything that Allah wills He likes. He has, as we have just read in the Qur’an, granted man the choice between belief and disbelief, but He does not, of course, like men to disbelieve (to be thankless). Allah Almighty says, “If you art ungrateful, Allah is independent of you. Yet He approves not ungratefulness in His servants; but if you are grateful, He will approve it in you.” (Az-Zumar: 7)”