{"id":356,"date":"2015-02-26T02:33:03","date_gmt":"2015-02-26T02:33:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/azmi.co\/cust\/ngba-wp\/?page_id=356"},"modified":"2016-07-31T02:28:05","modified_gmt":"2016-07-31T02:28:05","slug":"islam-predestination","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nogodbutallah.org\/?page_id=356","title":{"rendered":"Islam-predestination"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">In the name of All\u0101h,<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">the Beneficent, the Merciful.<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">Peace and Blessings of All\u0101h on Mohammad.<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"color: red; font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">DEDICATED TO<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">All\u0101h\u2013the Glorious and the High,<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">Lord of the worlds<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"color: red; font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">AND TO<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">Mohammad\u2013who brought the world<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">to our feet and eternity to our arms.<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">*<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: purple; font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;\">PREDESTINATION<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">In Islam man\u2019s action(s) is not pre-determined. Muhammad Ali notes: <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; margin-left: 21pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u201cA great deal of misunderstanding prevails about the doctrine of predestination and the absolute decree of good and evil by God. It is necessary first to understand the correct meaning of the Arabic words <i>qadar<\/i> and <i>taqdir<\/i> \u2013the ideas commonly associated with their meaning being unknown both to the Qur\u2019an and to Arabic lexicology. <i>Qadar<\/i> and <i>taqdir, <\/i>according to Raghib, mean <i>the making manifest of the measure (kamiyya) of a thing<\/i>, or simply <i>measure<\/i>. In the words of the same authority, God\u2019s <i>taqdir<\/i> of things is in two ways, by granting <i>qudra<\/i>, <i>i.e., power<\/i>, or by making them in a particular measure and in a particular manner, as wisdom requires. An example of this is given in the <i>taqdir<\/i> of the date-stone, out of which it is the palm only that grows, not an apple or olive tree, or in the <i>taqdir<\/i> of the sperm of man, out of which grows man only, not any other animal.<i> Taqdir <\/i> is<i>\u00a0<\/i>therefore <strong><i><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">the law or the ordinance or the measure which is working throughout the creation<\/span><\/i><\/strong>; and this is exactly the sense in which the word is used in the Qur\u2019an.\u201d (<i>The Religion of Islam<\/i>, pp. 309, 310. Underlined emphasis, added) <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;\"><i>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is the laws accorded to nature\/creation<br \/>\n<\/i><\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;\"><i>that are predestined.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0 The Polytheists claim that Allah God is responsible for the actions of man is rejected by Allah God Himself: <span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u201cThose who are polytheists say: If Allah pleased, we would not have set up (aught with Him), nor our fathers, nor would we have made anything unlawful. Thus did those before them reject (the truth) until they tasted Our punishment. Say, Have you any knowledge so you would bring it forth to Us? You only follow a conjecture and you only tell lies. Say, Then Allah\u2019s is the conclusive argument; so if He had pleased, He would have guided you all\u201d<strong>\u2013<\/strong>(Qur\u2019an 6:149, 150).<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; margin-left: 21pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u201cThe polytheists\u2019 contention here is that what they do is in accordance with the will of God, and this is condemned as a mere conjecture and a lie. And against it, two arguments are adduced. The first is that previous people were punish-ed when they persisted in their evil courses; if what they did was because God had so willed it, He would not have punished them for it. The second is that God had never said so through any of His prophets: \u201cHave you any knowledge with you so you should bring it forth to Us?\u201d And in the verse that follows, the argument is carried further: \u201cIf he had willed, He would have guided you all.\u201d The conclusion is clear. If it were the Divine will that people should be compelled to one course that would have been the course of guidance. But men are not compelled to accept even the right way; much less could they be compelled to follow the wrong course. This is clearly laid down: \u201cWe have truly shown the way, he may be thankful or unthankful\u201d (76:3). And again: \u201cThe truth is from your Lord, so let him who please believe, and let him who please disbelieve\u201d (18:29). The Divine will is therefore exercised in the raising up of prophets, and in the pointing out of the courses of good and evil, and human will is exercised in the choice of one course or the other.\u201d (M. Ali, <i>The Religion of Islam<\/i>, pp. 316, 317).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0 Muhammad Ali has also pointed out the error in the belief that All\u0101h, God <i>\u201cleads astray<\/i>.<i>\u201d<\/i> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; margin-left: 21pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u201cA great misconception regarding the teachings of the Qur\u2019an is that it ascribes to God the attribute of leading astray. Nothing could be farther from the truth. While <i>al-Hadi<\/i> or the <i>One Who guides<\/i>, is one of the ninety-nine names of Allah, as accepted by all Muslims, <i>al-Mudzill<\/i>, or <i>the One Who leads astray<\/i>, has never been recognized as such. If l<i>eading astray<\/i> were an attribute of God, as <i>guiding<\/i> certainly is, the name <i>al-Mudzill<\/i> should have been included in the list of His names, as <i>al-Hadi<\/i> is. But the Qur\u2019an, which repeatedly says that God\u2019s are all the excellent names, could not ascribe to Him what it has plainly ascribed to the Devil, <i>viz<\/i>., the leading astray of men.<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u2026..It is impossible that God, Who is so solicitous for the guidance of man, should Himself lead him astray. Guiding and leading astray are two contradictions which could not be gathered together in one being.\u201d<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u201cThe mistaken idea that God leads people astray arises out of a misconception of the meaning of the word <i>idzlal<\/i> when it is ascribed to God.\u201d (<i>The Religion of Islam<\/i>, pp. 323, 324, 325). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0 What is to be considered is that:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; margin-left: 21pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u2013if Allah has pre-determined man\u2019s life then His sending of prophets and revelations to guide us and to turn us from evil would be meaningless.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify; margin-left: 21pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u2013if Allah has predetermined our fate then His instructions to us to pray, give charity, feed the poor and the orphans and the needy, and to free the slaves would all be pointless.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0 Allah did not predetermine man\u2019s actions any more than He leads us into temptation. That man has complete freedom of choice in his actions is made clear in the following verses of the Qur\u2019an:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">Have We not given him (man) two eyes, and a tongue<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">and two lips, and pointed out to him the two<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;\">conspicuous ways (of good and evil)?<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">(90:8-10) <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">So He reveals to it (the soul) its way of evil and its way<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">of good, he is indeed successful who purifies it,<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">and he is ruined who corrupts it<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">(91:8-10)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">Whoever does good it is for himself,<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;\">and whoever does evil, it is against himself&#8230;<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">But whoever repents after his wrong-doing and reforms,<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;\">Allah will turn to him (mercifully).<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">Surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">(45:15; 5:39)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">And wrong not men of their dues, and act not<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">corruptly in the earth, making mischief<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">And whatever misfortune befalls you, it is on<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">account of what your hands have wrought<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">Surely Allah enjoins justice and the doing of<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">good\u2026and He forbids indecency, and evil and rebellion<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">O men&#8230;follow not the footsteps of the devil.<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">Surely he is an open enemy to you<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">(Qur\u2019an 26:183; 42:30; 16:90; 2:168)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0 Allah instructs us to pray: <span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u201cGuide us on the right path\u201d and \u201cMy Lord, increase me in knowledge\u201d\u2013(Qur\u2019an 1:5; 20:114).<\/span><br \/>\nClearly, the God who gives guidance, and Who increases His servants in knowledge could not predestine the actions of those servants <span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u2013a robot or a puppet has no need of, or use for guidance and knowledge.<\/span><br \/>\nNeither could Islam, which advocates pursuit of knowledge, be said to be backward or non-progressive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0 Neither does Allah God Who Guides and increases in know-edge can be said to lead astray. Muhammad Ali rightly says: \u201cIt is impossible that God, Who is so solicitous for the guidance of man, should Himself lead him astray. Guiding and leading astray are two contradictions which could not be gathered together in one being.\u201d (See Qur\u2019an 9:115; 17: 97; 39:23, 37).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0 Again, as noted, Allah God instructs us to pray, \u201cGuide us on the right path\u201d\u2013(Qur\u2019an 1:5). Since Islam advocates excellence in all matters of life, this seeking of Divine light is for guidance in matters spiritual, moral, intellectual, and social, the God Who gives guidance cannot be said to have predetermined man\u2019s actions or to lead him astray. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0 Again, Allah God instructs us to \u201csave yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones\u201d\u2013(Qur\u2019an 66:6). The God who tells us to \u201csave\u201d ourselves and families cannot be said to predestine us and our families; for then no one would be able to save himself and his family. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0 Further, that Allah God did not predestine the actions of man is clearly stated in His injunction that \u201cThere is no compulsion in religion\u201d\u2013(Qur\u2019an 2:256). If we are not to compel\/force another to do a thing, it is not reasonable to cerebrate that God would compel us to follow a pre-determined route.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0 In Islam man\u2019s fate is not written in the stars. In fact, 1400 years ago the Prophet Mohammad took the stars from the clutches of the astrologers and sat them firmly in the laps of the astronomers: declared the noble Messenger of God through Divine Revelation\u2013\u201cAllah has made subservient to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth\u201d\u2013(Qur\u2019an 31:20; 45:13). <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0 The belief that Allah said that half of mankind is destined to hell and the other half to heaven is not a declaration of pre-destination; but, if such a saying was made by Allah, it could only mean that Allah knowing that not all of mankind will fol-low His guidance, thus, (by their own choice) part will go to hell and part to heaven. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;\">In Islam man&#8217;s destiny is carved by his own heart and head and hands: not by Allah.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"PlainTextCharChar\" style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0 There is fatalism\/predestination in Christianity. That man is born with sin condemns the unbaptized and the still-born to eternal perdition, and must be buried in unconsecrated grounds. That inherited sin is washed away by sprinkling water on the new-born<i>\u00a0<\/i>is <i>charm<\/i>. Even superstition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"PlainTextCharChar\" style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0 The Bible teaches God is responsible for evil as well as good: <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u201cA man can receive nothing, <strong><i>except it be given him from heaven<\/i>\u201d<\/strong>\u2013(John 3:27).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"PlainTextCharChar\" style=\"font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0\u00a0 Islam teaches that only good comes from All\u0101h\u2013(Qur\u2019an 4:79; 16:53).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the name of All\u0101h, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Peace and Blessings of All\u0101h on Mohammad. DEDICATED TO All\u0101h\u2013the Glorious and the High, Lord of the worlds AND TO Mohammad\u2013who brought the world to our feet and eternity to our arms. * PREDESTINATION In Islam man\u2019s action(s) is not pre-determined. Muhammad Ali notes: \u201cA great [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-356","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nogodbutallah.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nogodbutallah.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nogodbutallah.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nogodbutallah.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nogodbutallah.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=356"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/nogodbutallah.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/356\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2116,"href":"https:\/\/nogodbutallah.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/356\/revisions\/2116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nogodbutallah.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}