Is a person free to choose or is he driven by fate? If he is the former, then to what extent is he free to choose? Does this include matters like marriage and good deeds?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is incorrect to say that a person is free or driven because he is both. On the one hand, each person is prepared for what he has been created for, and on the other hand, each person is free to choose because Allaah The Almighty has granted him a mind, perception and will. Thus, he can discern right from wrong and can distinguish good from evil and the useful from the harmful, and can thus choose what suits him and leave that which does not.

Because of this, man has been held competent for religious assignments and he has, thus, become worthy of reward for his obedience and of punishment for his disobedience. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

·        {Indeed, We created man from a sperm-drop mixture that We may try him; and We made him hearing and seeing. Indeed, We guided him to the way, be he grateful or be he ungrateful.} [Quran 76: 2-3]

·        {And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it and inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness.} [Quran 91:7-8]

It is also true that man is driven because he cannot do anything except through the power and will of Allaah who Says (what means): {And you do not will except that Allaah wills – Lord of the worlds.} [Quran 81:29]

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , told us that the first thing Allaah created was the pen and He ordered it to write the fate of the creation up to the Day of Judgment. [At-Tirmithi: Saheeh (Sound). Abu-Daawood] Actually, there are many texts from the Quran and Sunnah that support this fact. Also when the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was asked about fate and whether it was already determined, he answered that it was determined long ago. However, he ordered people to keep on working because each person is prepared for what he has been created for. [Muslim]

Allaah Knows best.