Free Will vs. Divine Decree
The issue of free will (ikhtiyar) versus divine decree (qadar), and how Allah guides or misguides, is a major theological debate in Islamic thought. The three main Sunni theological schools—Athari, Ash’ari, and Maturidi—hold different perspectives on this matter.
1. Free Will vs. Divine Decree (Qadar)
This issue is based on two key principles:
- Allah’s Absolute Knowledge and Power: Everything happens by Allah’s decree (qadar).
- Human Responsibility: Humans are accountable for their choices.
The challenge is reconciling these two principles—how can humans have free will if Allah has already decreed everything?
2. Allah’s Guidance and Misguidance
Allah states in the Qur’an:
“Indeed, you [O Prophet] do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills.”
(Surah Al-Qasas 28:56)
“Then Allah misguides whom He wills and guides whom He wills.”
(Surah Ibrahim 14:4)
Key questions arise:
- If Allah guides and misguides, does this mean humans lack free will?
- Is divine misguidance a punishment for rejecting the truth?
- How does Allah’s decree interact with human choice?
3. Differences Between Athari, Ash‘ari, and Maturidi Views
Each Sunni theological school has a unique way of explaining this issue.
A. Athari (Literalist) View
- Strictly adheres to Qur’an and Hadith without rational interpretation.
- Believes qadar (divine decree) is absolute and beyond human comprehension.
- Humans have a limited form of will, but all actions are ultimately created by Allah.
- Guidance and misguidance are entirely by Allah’s will, but humans still bear responsibility.
🔹 Summary: Humans act by their will, but their will itself is created by Allah. No deep philosophical exploration is necessary—faith is about submission, not speculation.
B. Ash‘ari View (Traditionalist-Rationalist)
- Introduced the concept of kasb (acquisition):
- Allah creates human actions, but humans “acquire” them through their will.
- This allows for moral responsibility without compromising Allah’s power.
- Guidance and misguidance:
- Allah guides some people as a favor.
- He allows others to go astray as a punishment for their own choices.
- Misguidance is not arbitrary but based on a person’s rejection of truth.
🔹 Summary: Humans have choice, but Allah is the ultimate Creator of their actions.
C. Maturidi View (Rationalist-Traditionalist)
- Emphasizes human rationality and responsibility.
- Believes humans have true free will to a greater extent than Ash‘aris.
- Allah does not directly create human actions, but He allows them to happen.
- Guidance and misguidance:
- Allah guides those who seek the truth and leaves others in misguidance.
- He does not arbitrarily misguide people but allows them to choose disbelief.
🔹 Summary: Humans have a more active role in their guidance or misguidance, though Allah’s will is still supreme.
4. Key Differences in Simple Terms
| School | Free Will? | How Guidance Works | Misguidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athari | Limited | Allah guides whoever He wills | Allah misguides whoever He wills |
| Ash‘ari | Moderate | Humans “acquire” actions; Allah creates them | Based on rejection of truth |
| Maturidi | Stronger free will | Allah guides those who seek truth | Humans choose misguidance |
All three schools affirm:
- Allah’s Knowledge and Power are absolute.
- Humans are responsible for their actions.
- Guidance is a combination of divine favor and human effort.
The differences lie in how much control humans have over their choices.