The Negation of Determinism and Relinquishment

Verily, Allah, the Mighty and High, created a creation, and knew they would proceed to Him. He commanded them what to do and what not to do. However, He never commands them to do anything until He has given them the ability do so; and He never forbids them from doing anything until He gives them the means to refrain from doing so. People never act or refrain from acting but with the permission of Allah, the Mighty and High, i.e. with His Knowledge.

The Messenger of Allah (SA) said: Whoever claims that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, commands immorality and indecency has attributed a lie to Allah. And whoever claims that good and evil take place without the will of Allah, has removed Allah from His Rule. Whoever claims that sins can take place without the power of Allah, has attributed a lie to Allah. And whoever attributes lie to Allah, Allah will cast him into Hell. The meaning of good and evil is health and illness, referring to his saying, the Majestic and Glorious: "And We try you by evil and good by way of probation." (Quran 21:35)

“Verily, Allah, the Mighty and High, is too Merciful towards His Creation then to compel them to sin and then punish them for it. Allah is Mightier than intending a matter and not being able to it.” The reporter says: “They were both asked: “Is there another position besides that of compulsion and free will?” They replied, “Yes, verily, and it is broader than the space between heaven and earth.”

Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, is more Honorable than obliging people to do what they do not have the strength to do. And Allah is Mightier than allowing something to exist in His Rule that He does not intend.

Verily, on the subject of free will, there are three types of persons. One person claims that Allah, the Mighty and High, has compelled people to sin. He is an unbeliever who has insulted the judgment of Allah. The second person claims that Allah has relinquished all mattes. He is an unbeliever as well, as he has insulted the rule of Allah. The third person claims that Allah only obliges His Servants to do what they have the strength to do, and does not oblige them to do what they do not have the strength to do. This is the correct Muslim: he who praises Allah when he does good and repents to Allah when he commits a sin.

I asked Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS): “Has Allah relinquished the affairs to the servants?” He (AS) replied, “allah is more Honorable than to relinquish matter to them.” I asked, “Then has Allah compelled His Servant to disobey in their actions?” He answered, “Allah is for too Just to compel His Servant to sin, and then punish him for doing so.”

“Shall I not give you an argument that will enable you to destroy the arguments of anyone who debates with you?” We replied, “Only if you think it is proper.” He (AS) replied, Verily, Allah, the Mighty and High, does not compel anyone to obey or disobey. He does not neglect His Servants in His Sovereignty. He is the Master over Everything they Possess, and He is All-Powerful over their actins. If they decide to obey Allah, He will not prevent them or obstruct them. If they decide to disobey Allah, and He wishes to prevent them form doing so, He will do so. However, if He does not prevent them from disobeying, and they disobey, He has not compelled them to do so. He (AS) then added, “whosoever masters this argument will defeat his opponent.”

“There is no determinism and thee is no relinquishment. Rather, the decree is between the two.” The reporter says: I asked, “What is the decree between the two?” He (AS) replied, “The example of that is of a man who was about to commit a sin. You saw him, and you told him not to do it. However, he did not stop. Then you left him, and he committed the sin. You abandoned him to his sin because he did not heed your warning. This does not mean that you encouraged him to sin.”

Do not give charity or accept the testimony of someone who believes in determinism. Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, does not burden not burden a soul with more than it can bear. No bearer of a burden shall bear the burden of another.

I asked him, “Has Allah relinquished matters to the servants?” He (AS) replied, “Allah is Mightier than that.” I asked, “Then has He compelled them to sins?” He (AS) answered, “Allah is more Just and better Judge than that.” He then added, “Allah, the Mighty and High, has said: `O son of Adam, I am worthier of your good deeds than yourself, and you are worthier of your bad deeds than Me. You committed sins by means of My Power.’

“then ask me.” I enquired, “Has Allah compelled His Servants to sin?” He (AS) answered, “Allah is more Subduer than that for them” I asked, “Did He then give them complete free will?” He (AS) replied, “Allah is more Powerful over them than that.” I questioned, “May Allah be in peace with you! Where does the truth lie?” He (AS) turned his hand over twice or thrice then responded, “If I answered that question, you would surely disbelieve.”

I asked Abu al-Hasan `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (AS): “O son of the Messenger of Allah! People claim that we believe in anthropomorphism and determinism on the basis of the traditions transmitted from your forefathers (AS).” Consequently, he (AS) said: “O son of Khalid! Are there more traditions about anthropomorphism and determinism related from my forefathers the Imam (AS) or are there more traditions about anthropomorphism and determinism related from the Prophet?” I answered, “Truly, there are far more transmitted from the Prophet (SA).” He (AS) said: “(Instead of accusing the Imams), they should accuse the Messenger of Allah (SA) of believing in anthropomorphism and determinism.” I asked him, “They claim: `Verily, the Messenger of Allah (SA) never said anything on the subject; rather, what has been transmitted has been falsely attributed to him.” He responded, “Then they should say the same thing about my forefathers (AS): They never spoke on the subject; rather, what has been transmitted has been falsely attributed to them.” He then added, Whoever believes in anthropomorphism and determinism is an unbeliever and an infidel. We disown them in this world and the Hereafter. O son of Khalid! Verily, the traditions concerning anthropomorphism and determinism have been fabricated in our name by the exaggerators [ghali], who belittle the greatness of Allah. Therefore, whoever likes them dislikes us, and whoever dislikes them, likes us. Whoever befriends them shuns us, and whoever shuns them befriends us. Whoever strengthens ties with them servers ties with us, and whoever (severs) shuns ties with them strengthens ties with us. Whoever is harsh with them is kind to us, and whoever is kind to them is harsh with us. Whoever honors them has insulted us, and whoever insults them has honored us. Whoever accepted them has rejected us, and whoever rejects them has accepted us. Whoever is good to them is mean to us, and whoever is mean to them is good to us. Whoever verifies them belies us, and whoever belies them, verifies us. Whoever bestows anything upon them, has refused to bestow it to us. O son of Khalid! Whoever is our Shi`ite, then he should not take them to be his fiend or helper.