Islam - Are We Forced or Free

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This booklet is translation of a part of the Arabic book

'Sharh Hadeeth Jibra'eel' by Shaikh Muhammad ibn Saleh al-Uthaimeen (rahimahullah)

Shaikh Saleh al-Fawzan writes in Mujmal Aqeedah as-Salaf,

"Many groups have been misled in their understanding of Qadar (Predestination/Divine Decree). From them are the Jahmiyah and the Jabriyah who claim that the slave is forced in his actions and he has no control, ability or will. He is like a feather or a leaf which is blown by the wind.

Another group went to the other extreme and declared that every man creates his own actions. Allah has no will or control in the slave's action. The slave performs his actions by his choice and power that is independent of the Will of Allah. Some of them exaggerated to the extent that they said that Allah does not know the thing before it occurs...

The first group (Jabriyah) affirmed the Divine Decree and exaggerated (in their affirmation of Allah's Will) and thus robbed the slave from his will.

The second group (Qadariyah) exaggerated in (their affirmation of) the slave's will until they denied the Will and Decree of Allah.Both these groups are greatly mistaken and misguided.

The Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah is on the middle path – they affirm ability, choice and will for the slave but it is subservient to the Will and Power of Allah and the slave cannot do anything except by the Will of Allah. [end quote]

This booklet gives the reader a thorough understanding of how the will, choice and ability of the slave are subservient to the Will and Power of Allah in the words of the noble Shaikh Muhammad ibn Saleh al-Uthaimeen (rahimahullah)

Apart from explaining what it means to believe in the Divine Decree, the Shaikh has expansively clarified important issues related to the subject, like Allah's Will for the occurrence of Kufr despite His Hatred for it.

Explanation of additional issues like - the sinner's justification by predestination, Is it obligatory upon us to be pleased with what has been decreed? - make the book more comprehensive and beneficial for the reader.

We ask Allah to forgive our mistakes and make us amongst those who are patient and pleased with the Decree of Allah. Ameen.

Shawana A. Aziz (www.qsep.com)