SPIRIT OF ISLAM JULY 2O18

17 Spirit of Islam Issue 67 July 2018 DESTINY AND FREEWILL Balanced I S man’s life predestined or determined by his freewill? Is man free to choose his path or is he helpless? The answer to this question is that in one sense, man is free, but in another sense he is helpless. It is a matter of fifty-fifty or equal share. In our daily lives, each one of us goes about doing things with freedom. But, along with this, we repeatedly feel that there are powers beyond our control which cannot be ignored or else, we will be unable to do our work. What are these two seemingly opposite factors? One is our individual personalities and the other is the conditions and circumstances within which we act. These conditions or circumstances can be called an ‘infrastructure’ which is established by nature. As far as our own selves are concerned, we are totally free. We have the freedom to think and speak as we please, to direct our lives in whichever direction we want. In this sense, we are completely free. But as far as the ‘infrastructure’ within which we operate is concerned, we do not have the power to change it or to plan our course of action by ignoring it. For instance, if you walk, it is something that you choose to do. But to walk, you need the earth beneath your feet. You need gravity below you. You need atmospheric pressure above you. These things are part of the external ‘infrastructure’, without which you cannot walk. The same is true for everything in the context of which we do our actions. Similarly, our birth—place, family, conditions, gender—are predetermined for us. We have no choice in these matters. This state of affairs tells us that in this world, man lies between two different and distinct considerations—in one sense, he is free, and in another, he is helpless and compelled. In terms of using his will, he is completely free. But he is helpless in the sense that he cannot use his free will without the infrastructure that has been established by the Creator. The right position in this matter is one of balance—a middle- position between freedom, compulsion and predetermined aspects. The debate about freewill and predetermination is an ancient one. Ancient philosophers and others who came after them have written Man lies between two different and distinct considerations—in one sense, he is free, and in another, he is helpless and compelled.