Part 54

Rather you are just following conjecture and inventing lies against Allaah.” [surah al-An'aam (6):148] If they had been any excuse for them in pre-decree then Allaah would not have sent down His punishment upon them. (ii) The Saying of Allaah, the Most High, "Messengers who were sent with the good news of Allaah's reward for those who obey Him, do as He commands and believe in His messengers, and warner's of Allaah's punishment, for those who disobey Allaah, contravene His commands and disbelieve in His messengers; so that those who disbelieve in Allaah and worship others besides Him may have no excuse to avoid punishment after the sending of the messengers, and Allaah is the All-Mighty, All-Wise." [surah an-Nisaa (4): 165] If pre-decree were an excuse for the evildoers, then it would not be removed by the sending of the messengers, since their evil acts after the sending of the messengers would still be according to the pre-decree of Allaah, the Most High. (iii) Al-Bukhaaree reports from 'Alee ibn Abee Taalib, radiyallaahu 'anhu, that the Prophet said: "There is not one of you except that his place in the Fire or in Paradise has already been written" So a man from the people said: "Shall we not just depend upon it, O Messenger of Allaah?" He replied: "No, act for everyone will have that made easy for him” (Then he recited Aayaat 5-10 of surah al-Layl). [Eng. transl. 8/392/no, 602] In the wording reported by Muslim he said: "For everyone will have that which he was created for made easy for him" (Eng. transl. 4/1393/no. 6398). So the Prophet (3H) commanded action and forbade inaction and dependence upon pre-decree. (iv) Allaah, the Most High, gave the servant orders and prohibitions, and did not burden him except with that which he is capable of performing. Allaah, the Most High, says, "And fear Allaah and fear His punishment by doing whatever He has obligated, avoiding sins and doing deeds that will draw one closer to Him - as much as you are able." [surah at-Taghaabun (64): 16] "Allaah does not place a burden on any soul greater than it can bear." [surah al-Baqarah (2):286] So if the servant was compelled to do (evil) actions, then he would have been duty bound with avoiding something which is impossible for him to avoid - and this is futile. Therefore it is the case that if he falls into a sin due to ignorance, forgetfulness or having been compelled then there is no sin upon him, as he is excused. (v) Allaah's pre-decree is a hidden secret that is not known except after what was decreed comes about; whereas the person's will and desire in his deeds is something that precedes them. So his will to commit the actions is not based upon his having knowledge of what Allaah has decreed. Since this is the case it invalidates his attempt to use pre-decree as an excuse, because there is no proof for a person in something that he doesn't know. (vi) We see that in a person's worldly affairs he strives to take care of that which is in his best interests, seeking to attain it; and he does not, instead, strive to attain what is not in his best interest and excuse himself in this with pre-decree. So why then does he turn away from what benefits him in the matter of his Religion, and instead does that which will harm him, and then use pre-decree as his excuse?! Are not these two matters the same?! We will quote an example to make this clear: If a person stood at the head of two roads, one of them led to a land where there was total anarchy, killing and looting, destruction of property, fear and famine; and the second road led to a land of complete order, total stability and security, affluence, and where peoples live and property and wealth were respected, then which road will he take?