Will & Free Will
Assertion:-
Man has been given Free Will. There is choice.
Comment:-
The Quran says:-
"There is no power save in Allah!" 18:40
"And unto Allah do prostrate whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, as do their shadows in the morning and the evening." 13:15
"Nay, verily, man is indeed rebellious in that he thinks himself independent (or self-sufficient or rich)!" 96:6-7
Will is an attribute of God, the result of the Spirit of God in man.
Free Will means that there are wills other than that of God. This is Shirk, Polytheism. It flouts the fundamental principle of Islam, Tauhid (Unity).
But I am sure you know all this and still insist on using the phrase "Free Will".
There is no Free Choice. This would mean action without causes or reasons. There are certainly alternatives but each requires an appropriate cause internal or external. If you are looking only from the outside then you are mistaking "free will" for self-determination i.e. having internal causes. So instead of arguing just try to understand and stop ignoring Quranic verses that do not agree with your prejudices or distorting their meaning.
Another Objector:-
This is not correct. We do have Free Will. We have all the stories of Prophets who were stressing that they are only messengers (of a supreme message) and Warners. None of the Prophets enforced his will (or the will of God on behalf of him) on the people against their wish.
Comment:-
I have given you the Quranic verses to show that all power belongs to God. Do you wish to ignore them? Or have you some other interpretation for them? Let us have these.
But you appear to have misunderstood. I am not denying that man has been given the power of thinking (data processing) and, therefore, a degree of self-determination. He does have a will. I am denying that anything can be done without causes or reasons and therefore, without the power of God.
What is the point in arbitrary chance or random impulsive behaviour?
Where is the justice if Allah gives you free will and then punishes you if you exercise it. The Quran is itself a cause that affects people. Otherwise it would not have been sent.
What the Quran says is that there is no compulsion in religion. That is why the Prophets did not impose their will on people. To do so would not have been conversion at all. What the Quran says is that it is for God to guide them.
"It is not thy duty (O Muhammad) to guide them; but Allah guides whom He will." 2:272
Objector:-
You say there is no will besides that of God. Of course there is a will besides that of God, however it is God's will that is superior to all individuals wills.
Comment:-
How did man obtain this will? Are you telling us that this will arose freely uncaused? Are you saying that it can flout the will of God? If you can do as you want where is the omnipotence of God? Do you deny He is omnipotent?
If you do not believe the Quran, look into yourself. Can you do anything unless it is either due to a habit, or unconscious impulse? When you do it intentionally it is only because the idea came into your mind unwilled. And the actions you take are by the powers placed in you by God.
What is meant by "All praise belongs to Allah". What is meant by "Islam"? It is the conscious acknowledgement of our dependence on Allah.
"It is not for any soul to believe save by the permission of Allah; He sets uncleanness on those who have no sense." 10:101
This idea of Free Will is a common superstition that cannot be justified. But it is based on a misunderstanding which is itself based on egotism.
Objector:-
If there would be no free will, then how could one criticise or condemn any wrongdoers. They could argue by saying that it is God's fault since they are performing nothing else than God's will.
Comment:-
Justice is connected with Law according to which certain actions have certain consequences. These can be beneficial or harmful. The knowledge of this acts as a causal factor for human behaviour. God has sent his guidance and instructions and placed in man the capacity to understand and obey them.
If man had been given free will as you say then there would be no justice in punishing him for exercising it. If we want the reward (the desire for benefits is built-in) then we have no choice but to seek and obey the laws of God. If we do not want the rewards then this is either because of ignorance or disease. These are also causal factors.
Objector:-
God has the power to intervene everywhere and every time and change the development and the outcome of all things, but it does not mean that man does not need to think or do any thing because - if necessary - God would make him do or think it.
Comment:-
Correct. God has placed the power of thinking and action in man and sent the guidance in the form of Messengers and Scriptures. These are causal forces. "There is no power save in Allah". To obey Allah you need His power and must seek it. You must realise that as long as you attribute Free Will to yourself you have not Surrendered to Allah. You will think that you can do as you like.
Examine the following verses:-
"Their Messengers said unto them: We are only mortals like yourselves; but Allah gives grace unto whomsoever He will of His servants, and it is not for us to bring you an authority, save by His permission. In Allah let believers rely!" 14:11
"Unto Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens, and the earth, and all that is therein, and He has Power to do all things." 5:120
"He is Omnipotent over His servants, He is the Wise, the Aware!" 6:18
"Say: For myself I have no power to benefit, nor power to harm, save what Allah will." 7:188
"Let not their speech grieve thee; verily, power belongs wholly to Allah. He is the Hearer and Knower." 10:66
"Allah has power over all things." 5:19, 6:17, 8:41, 9:39, 11:4, 16:77, 18:46, 24:45, 29:20, 30:50, 33:27, 35:1, 42:9, 46:33, 48:21 and many more verses.
How many times more does this have to be repeated before it penetrates?
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