Ameer Hamzah :
Destiny and freedom of will are inter-related in Islam. Unless Allah has decreed something for a man, he cannot get it, much he tries. Again, whatever Allah fixes for him, he cannot get it if he sits idle and does not work.
Destiny means fate (measure). Allah says, “Verily We have created everything with measure,”-54/49. According to the determinists, otherwise called Jabaria, destiny is inevitable. What Allah fixes for a man, it must take place whether he works or not. ‘. We read in the Hadith-i-Qudsi when fetus in the womb of mother enters 40 days, an angel writes in his/her soul what will happen to her/him, what he/she will eat, how long will he/she survive and in which land will he/she die. A saint said to the angel: What do you write? The angel said: I write what Allah desires.
On the other hand, the opposing school called Quderia (materialists) say that Allah has also granted man freedom of will, that is right to choose a thing, with warning to the wrong-doers of painful punishment. Conversely, the righteous will be rewarded and lodged in the Paradise.
The materialists quote verse No, 40/40 in support of their statement. The verse is, “Whoever does an evil, he shall not be recompensed (with aught) but the like of it, and whoever does good, whether male or female, and he is a believer, he shall enter the garden in which he shall be given sustenance without measure”.
The materialists argue that Allah is with him who tries first. In support of their statement, they quote verse No. 13/11. The text is: Verily Allah changes not the condition of a people, who change not themselves (first).
We know that success of a work depends upon good planning, timely execution and logistic supports. Mere advice does nothing. History gives evidence that the nation who had able leadership and worked hard flourished at length. The examples of Germany and Japan could be cited here. These two countries overcame the 2nd World War’s holocaust within a short time by dint of good planning, proper execution and logistic supports and became the two leading economic powers.
A Muslim scholar said about destiny that it demolishes freedom and rationality. The fatalists cannot strengthen their personality, improve morality and control deeds. They leave everything in the hands of destiny and deny the relation between cause and effect. Hazrat Ali (RA)-bin-Abu Talib said, “When destiny steps in, eyes become blind. One cannot distinguish between good and evil, friend from foe. It confuses a physician about his treatment and makes it vain- (Reference: Man and his Destiny by Murtaza Motahhari at page No. 75).
The Prophet Muhammad (SM) planned to face the Qureysh outside the city of Madina in the battle of Trench. Knowing it, Salman, a Persian, suggested to dig trench around the city of Madina and to post strong guards in the rear against infiltration. The Prophet accepted the suggestion and dropped his own idea. Since that time, trench has occupied an important part in the modern warfare.
About the definition of destiny, Hazrat Ali (RA) said, if you sit beside a near collapsing wall, it may fall on your head. According to the law of cause and effect, if a man sits beside a wall likely to fall, it may fall on his head, making him injured (even death). But if he does not do so, he will remain safe.
There is no doubt that destiny demolishes man’s ability to work. The materialists accuse the fatalists of ignoring the verse No.6/135 wherein Allah says, “Say (O Muhammad unto people): O my people! Work according to your capacity.”
We know: that the Muslims conquered Spain under the command of Tarique-bin-Ziad in 711 AD and ruled over 300 years. When Cordova and Granada were illuminated under the Muslim administration, the streets of London plunged into darkness. Yet, the Muslims had to leave Spain in 1031 AD, because the Muslim rulers, in the later days, ignored the necessity of strong Armed Forces and skilled diplomacy.
The following two verses make it clear that a man is responsible for his own misfortunes. One of them is: Whatever misfortune strikes you, it is your right hand that has earned-42/30. The other is “Catastrophe has appeared in the land and the sea on account of what the hands of men have wrought-30/41.
Again Allah says, “Let him, who will, believe, and let him, who will, disbelieve. We have prepared for the wrongdoers iniquitous fire-18/29. This verse gives testimony that freedom of will should not be misused because it has severe consequences.
Supposing a man enjoys physical fitness. Now if he follows medical advice, he may live for 100 years, but if not, it will be reduced to half of that. His destiny is such as if he applies hygienic principles, he will survive 100 years, otherwise 50.
The Prophet Muhammad (SM) said: If you want more sustenance and longer life, maintain good terms with your relatives, help them in distress.
Allah grants freedom of will as revealed from Hadith No. 243, Hadith-e-Qudsi. After exchanging greetings with the angels, Hazrat Adam (AS) returned. Then Allah expanded His Hand and Adam saw unaccountable number of human faces there. Pointing to one, Allah said: This is Dawood, your son. I have fixed 40 years for him. Adam said: O my Lord! Increase it. Allah said: I have settled 40 years. Then Adam said: I give him 60 years from my account. Allah said: This is the matter between you two.
On the other hand, when Allah said to the angels present: I am going to place My viceroy in the earth, they said: Wilt Thou place therein such as shall make mischief and shed blood? We praise Thee and extol Thy Holiness. Allah said: I know what you know not-(Ref: Verse No. 2/30). But Allah did not call for explanation from them for their reservation.
Again when Allah asked a group of angels to salute the poor muhajirin (migrant warriors), the first to enter Paradise, they said: We live in heavens and the best of your creations. Yet do thou command us to salute them (muhajirin)?
Allah said: They are such as always worshipped Me and ascribed not partner, guarded frontiers, endured pains and sufferings, and died with much of their desires unfulfilled. Then the angels went to them and saluted, saying: Live you in peace in this Paradise. It is the reward from thy Lord for what you did-Hadith-I-Qudsi, Hadith No. 234.
The said Hadith clearly approves of freedom of opinion..
Contrarily, when Allah asked Iblis to explain as to why did he not fall in prostration before Adam? He (Iblis) replied with arrogance and conceit. He said: I am better than him. Thou created me of fire while him thou didst create of mud. Allah did not like Iblis’s such explanation. Unhappy with his haughtiness and vanity, Allah expelled him from His Mercy.
Iblis did not say that you commanded a group of angels only, and since I am not of them, I did not prostrate. Rather, he said with vanity: I am better than Adam.
We learn from the aforesaid story that man must exercise freedom of opinion with reason and fair dealing. There is no opportunity any way to abuse that right.
On the other hand, Allah did not object to the independent opinion of the angels but progressed with His own plan.
Islam recommends for listening to the learned and to accept the best thereof. Verse No. 39/18 says, “Listen to what is said and follow the best thereof.” Hazrat Ali said, “Regard what is said, not who has said”-Mizan.
Contrary to the above discussions, history shows that that the issue of fate and destiny during the Umayyad rule was a firm and strong pretext to suppress and kill the supporters of man’s free will and freedom opposing the misrule of the Umayyad rulers.
All the Umayyad rulers except Omar-bin-Aziz killed thousands of people, including hundreds of companions of the Prophet, and those who had sympathy for Imam Hussain (RA). All they committed in the name of destiny.
About a man’s desire, Allah says: Shall man have what he wishes for? (V-53/24). Allah gives answer in verse No. 39 in the same surah, An Najm. “And that man shall have nothing but what he strives for.”
Those who believe in determinism, say that Allah has already decided whom He will lodge in the Paradise and whom He will send to hell. Contrarily, the materialists argue that Allah has promised Paradise for those who believe and do good works. They say it with reference to two verses in Surah Loqman. The texts are: Whoso believes and do good works, for him is paradise-31/8, and “Enter it, this is the promise of Allah, and He is Mighty, Wise-31/9.
Allah decrees for every man and woman for the next one year on the Night of Qadr in the month of Ramadan, not on the Night of Shaban 15-(Reference: Surah Ad Dukhan, Verses 1-4, Surah Al Qadr).