Thursday, October 21, 2004
Free Will vs. Pre-destination in Islam
Confused
After a preliminary conversation with my Muslim friends at the Islamic University about the Muslim doctrines of free will and pre-destination, I read a book they gave me: The Salaf’s Guide to The Understanding of Al-Qadaa’ Wal Qadar: Fate in Islam, by Dr. Saleh As-Saleh.
It didn’t help remedy a contradiction I sensed from our initial talk.
I don’t understand how things can be pre-destined and then the claim made that man has free will.
I learned from this book that, according to Islam, “all of our deeds are pre-recorded in the Preserved Tablet” (also known as Al-Laouh ul Mahfoudh, Ummul Kitab, the Clear Book) and that what is written will certainly be executed. “It is not subject to any change whatsoever because it is based upon Allah’s knowledge” and, obviously, God is infallible and cannot be wrong (p. 41, 50).
“Allah’s knowledge compasses everything: He knew what had occurred, what will occur, and all that which did not occur. He knew everything about creation before He created it. He knew in His Eternal Knowledge about His creation; their provisions, life-spans, sayings, moves, deeds, secrets, all of their obedient and disobedient acts, who amongst them will be from the people of Al-Jannah (Paradise) or who will be from the people of Annar (Hell Fire)” (p. 17).
If all of this is known, written, and not subject to change, then aren’t we just going through the motions? Acting out a script?
The book asks and then answers (unsatisfactorily, in my opinion): Is Man Endowed With A Free Will? (from p. 106)
“Did you want to read this book by your own free will? Do you want to eat later? Do you want to go to bed when you feel sleepy? When it is time to pray, do you go and make Wudu’ (Ablution)? Do you choose the kind of car you want to buy? etc. The actions done by a mature person are based upon his free will. He has a will and he has an ability. If man has no free will, punishment on disobedience would be unjust! Similarly, obedience would be in Vain! Nay! but man has a choice, and his actions are foreordained by Allah, and He (SW) does not compel him to act. We know that when man wanted to do something and he was able to accomplish it, then Allah (SW) wanted to have it done:
‘To whomsoever among you who wills to walk straight, and you will not, unless (it be) that Allah wills.’ (Qur’an 81: 28-29)
Had man been compelled, he would have no will or ability to act. But since man’s will and ability are both part of his self, and that self is a creation of Allah, then man’s choice does not escape the Perfection of Allah’s Ruboobiyyah: Nothing occurs in the heavens and on earth but with Allah’s permission, He wills it.
There are certain things that happen without man having any will or choice in them. Such things are not attributed to man; for example, death, illness, being suddenly hit by a car, etc. All such matters are purely attributed to Al-Qadar [fate].”
If actions are foreordained by God, then they will happen; that eliminates choice. I can’t choose not to do it, because then God would be wrong.
Elaborating on a point mentioned above regarding punishment for disobedience, the author sets out to answer the following:
“Allah, the Exalted, knew and wrote that such and such person is going to commit an act of disobedience. Certainly this is going to happen exactly as Allah had preordained. Does he deserve punishment just because it is a matter preordained?” (p. 122).
I couldn’t have put it better myself.
The (unclear) answer: “Acts of obedience and disobedience come from the bondsman himself. They are executed by him, and occur because of his will and ability. He is actively described and judged by his deeds. Nevertheless, his deeds are created by Allah, and that does not contradict (the fact) that they are actions of the slave himself. So whoever commits acts of disobedience, then he has done them by his own choice” (p. 120-1).
Again, I see contradiction. If “Allah knew all about those who will commit wrong deeds before they actually commit them,” then what choice IS there really? (p. 122). Granted, humans don't know what God knows, so we're sort of making decisions on our own/with free will, but not really. Because the fact that actions are written and divinely foreseen means we will do one thing and not another. I suppose you could look at it not as God controlling or determining (thereby eliminating choice) but more of him anticipating what we're going to do before we do it. Like a psychic may know our future, but doesn't make it happen...
This gives me a headache.
And makes me all the more averse to religion.
Actually, I've been getting a lot more impatient with religious conversations in general. Well, at least when they're related to me. Or I see hypocrisy or inconsistencies or hate (upcoming post on that, still doing research...).
After a year in Malaysia, I'm all the more convinced I don't need or want a religion. I like to make my own rules, use the brain God gave me to determine conduct, right from wrong, how to live. And all that stuff we can't know for sure (e.g. see above confusion!), well, why sweat it?
