@ nferyn, Thank you. Great that you ask.

Before I proceed I would like to quote the Quraan :-

[Truly, God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves] (Surat Ar-Ra`d 13:11).

And then back to your question, which I am going to explain with logics to ease understanding.

nferyn:

Isn't Allah omniscient, omnipotent and omnibenevolent? If so, then there is still no free will.
Can you clarify?

Yes he is. But let me ask you a simple question, When you have a knowledge of something before hand, such as for example, simple arithmetic 1 + 1 = 2, is there any possibilities that, 1 + 1 = 2 all the time? Nope. Apply the law of logic combination that is binary theorem, 1 + 1 is not equal to 2. Infact 1 + 1 = 10 . Now why is the answer different? Because the law that governs the addition in this case is different, What makes it so? your decision of using not the normal arithmetic addition rule, but applying the binary addition. Now dont you have the knowledge that 1 + 1 = 2 and also 1 + 1 = 10 . I suppose so. Well its due to the choice of laws. Both based on that choice you can predetermine the effects of the choice? Cant you?

I guess so Humans have free will, they have the ability to choose, and based on whatever they choose, God is All knowing to the effects of that choice . In Islam Destiny is defined, measured, as clearly stated in the Quran.

I hope I have answered your question.

I don't intend to start a religious debate here, but I really need to clarify an issue here.

Islamic opinions and facts are not for you to judge, thats why I said a little bit of rationality would be greatly appreciated. It is very logical.

axeprince:

There is nothing like free will, if there happened to be any, it was taken away the day God gave the command for Adam and Eve not eat a particular fruit.

Is that an opinion based on your understanding, or from the bible. A reference would be appreciated.

axeprince:

And yes, God's mind can be changed by mortals, this was shown when Moses asked God:'To what purpose would they be called your people if you distroy them? (Israelites in the wilderness)

Well said, so every humanity has a chance then, not based on destiny, since God can change his mind according to your opinion.

And last of all. God is all loving. He is Fair, he does not pre-destine Hell for some nor pre-destine Heaven for some. The choice of heaven and Hell is in the hands of humanity based on their deeds, thanks to freedom of free will. Destiny in Islam is clearly defined, and does not cover all aspects of life. I repeat this is an Islamic point of view. So treat it with rationality.

Yes the concept of God can be very logical from the Islamic point of view if understood properly. I don't want to give opinions from the Christian point of view, but allow me to explain the concept of destiny from the Islamic point of view.

First of all, I would like to define certain Islamic terminologies, because I am going to use it later on.

TAQDEER
The word taqdeer stems from the three letter root qaa-daa-raa with the basic meanings of ‘to measure. Qadartush shai means ‘I measured the thing'; qadarash shai bish shai is ‘he measured the thing against the (other) thing': qadartu ‘alaihe s sowb (‘he made clothes according to his measurements); qa dd artu alaihesh shai means ‘I made measured changes to the thing'.

Therefore , taqdeer basically means to make something according to a measure / standard. Some examples of its derivatives are as follows:

► miqdaar: a model, pattern, or a standard
► qadrun: measurement (volume, size, weight, etc)
► haaza qadrun haaza: this is exactly like this (other)
► jaa' ‘ala qadrin: he arrived according to the estimate
► jaawaza qadrahu: he transgressed his limits
► aqdar: a horse which trots in a way that its hind hoofs exactly follow the spots made by the front hoofs


From the Islamic point of view, God has ordained certain standards and measures for the functioning of the Universe. For instance, it is pre-determined for water to solidify at 0 ° C and vaporize at 100 ° C; for fire to burn and scorch and for the Earth to exert gravitational pull, and so on so forth. In the physical world of living matter (plants, animals and humans), Nature has similarly ordained their[b] taqdeer[/b]– some animals are herbivores, some are carnivores while Man is omnivore. The Sun, the Moon and all the other astral bodies are likewise bound to their respective taqdeer – their natural life spans and their properties.

But, Man is different from the rest of Creation in having the freedom of choice: O Rasool! proclaim to the entire mankind "The truth has come from your Rabb, whosoever chooses may accept it and whosoever chooses may reject it.. * Quran Chapter 18 Verse 29

Nonetheless, it is to be noted that Man is free to choose an action but they must bear the naturally ordained and pre-determined consequence of that action. If one puts one's finger in fire, one must suffer burns (because that is the taqdeer of that action). After that, one must turn to another action with a different taqdeer – like applying an ointment on the burn.

Similarly, in the human social world, Man is free to choose his actions but must bear the natural consequences of them. The laws governing the physical as well as the human social universe are unchanging and constant. Whosoever follows the Divine Law, even if to a very small extent, and does noble deeds will see pleasant results. And whosoever goes against the law, even if to a very small extent, would get appropriate punishment * Quran Chapter 99 Verse 7-8


One must act individually or collectively to get results in this universe. To get the desired results, the taqdeer of the Universe and the relating Laws of Nature must be discovered and kept in view at all times. The Natural laws, as we have seen are the standards and measures of things set by God. In other words, they are the aqdaar the permanent values which run the entire Universe. These aqdaar were given to mankind in one of the darkest hours of its intellectual existence.

I wouldnt want to go into explaining the darkest hours of humans intellectual existence, because it would be a total deviation from the actual topic at hand. But I hope we threat the Islamic point of view with rationality.

Quranic Reference for Taqdeer: Destiny

► He has created everything in a particular proportion and has determined the measures for its capabilities and potentialities. * Quran Chapter 25 Verse 2

► The conflict between evil and good is necessary for the evolution of the universe.This may be understood by means of * Quran Chapter 13 Verse 17

► It has been stated that there is a period of respite between actions and their results. This is evident from the following examples * Quran Chapter 13 Verse 8

► As regards life after death, it may be explained through an example. A seed, grain or a date stone appears to be lifeless but it contains a life-germ which, given appropriate conditions, bursts forth into a living plant * Quran Chapter 6 Verse 96

► Remember, the system satisfactorily provides for whoever trusts it and ultimately leaves nothing undecided. This is so because Allah Almighty has devised measures (rules and regulations) for everything * Quran Chapter 65 Verse 3

► Then We raise that child by passing him through various stages. According to this law of procreation and life, We have also laid down measures for death * Quran Chapter 56 Verse 60

► His Law contains measures for life and death and He has absolute power and control over all of them * Quran Chapter 41 Verse 39

► Means of sustenance are abundantly stored in the earth but may be taken out only in due measure * Quran Chapter 15 Verse 21

► Allah Almighty Creates everything by combining different elements and giving it a particular form.Thereafter,by eliminating extra and
unnecessary elements,creates proportion and balance in it * Quran Chapter 87 Verse 1-2-3