Destiny should not be used as a pretext for committing sins

25/11/2009| IslamWeb

Question

What should we say to those who use destiny as a pretext for committing sins and say that Allah The Almighty did not will to guide them?

Fatwa

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, sallaallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

It is easy to refute what these people say by telling them that Allah The Almighty has made clear for people the path of truth and the path of falsehood, and given them the right of choice so that they may choose whatever they want. Allah the Almighty wants them to choose the right path and orders them to do so. He does not order them to do what He already knows according to His prior knowledge.

There are many proofs for this in the Quran, Sunnah (tradition), and from common sense. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):

•        {We have certainly created man into hardship. Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? He says, "I have spent wealth in abundance." Does he think that no one has seen him? Have We not made for him two eyes? And a tongue and two lips? And have shown him the two ways?} [Quran 90:4-10]

The two ways are that of truth and falsehood. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):

•        {Indeed, this is a reminder, so whoever wills may take to his Lord a way.} [Quran 73:19]

•        {That is the True Day; so he who wills may take to his Lord a [way of] return.} [Quran 78:39]

•        {It is not except a reminder to the worlds. For whoever wills among you to take a right course} [Quran 81:27,28]

In these verses and in many others, Allah the Almighty has established that a person has the right to choose and he may choose the way he wants. There is no doubt that the will of Allah The Almighty is predominant, however using this is invalid as a pretext for committing sins. None of these people use this argument for worldly matters, as they never stop eating, drinking, or seeking treatment on the pretext that Allah The Almighty did not will that.

One of the logical proofs is that no one feels that there is a power that pushes him or forces him to do something that he does not wish to do, on the contrary he is the one who wills and chooses to do perform an action or not.

And Allah knows best.