Covered in this lesson:

Conclusion of answer to question 153 regarding whether the servants have any power or will over their actions.

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Notes (produced by Abū Yahyā Imrān Rafīq):

Q153. Commentary of Shaykh Ahmad al-Najmī (d.1429H, rahimahullāh): Brings several āyāt as evidence, including this one:

“While Allāh created you and that which you do?” [37:96]

This indicates our actions are from the creations of Allāh. Will, wish, power and actions of men are not identical or synonymous with Will, Wish, Power and Actions of Allāh. They (humans) do their actions (including deeds of Kufr) through their will, wish, power. Allāh is the creator of those actions, He is not the doer.

When people didn’t follow the Book, the Legislative Will (Shari’ah), the devils and shayatīn pounced upon them to make them fall into disobedience. When they deviated Allāh caused their hearts to deviate.

“Allāh will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allāh).” [13:11]

If you desire obedience, Allāh knows you want obedience and will appoint people for you or around you through whom Allāh will guide you and make you know the truth.

If you turn away and are far away, you turn away from Allāh, the Book and speech of the Messenger, when this happens repeatedly (turning away), a point will come when Allāh will turn away from you.

Hadīth of three men attending halaqah. First sat within circle itself. Second was shy and sat at the back and the third turned away from Allāh, so Allāh turned away from him.

Shaykh says by Allāh, I fear for many people, they see a lesson but they turn away, they don’t have a necessity or an emergency where they can be excused, such people we fear for them. Such people instead of sitting in gatherings of knowledge they sit in gatherings of Qīl wa Qāl.

Commentary of Shaykh Sālih Al-Fawzān (hafidhahullāh): Allāh has a will, the servants have a will but the will of the servants is consequential, it follows on from the will of Allāh.

“But you cannot will, unless Allāh wills…” [76:30]

“And you cannot will, unless (it be) that Allāh wills, the Lord of the ‘Alāmīn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” [81:29]

This is a refutation of the Qadariyyah and Jabariyyah.

Our will is a created will, it can only ever follow from His will and power as it is a creation from the creations of Allāh.

Hadīth where it is mentioned: ‘Whatever Allāh has willed, and what you (Muhammad) have willed’, ‘rather it is what Allāh has willed, then what I willed.’ The word ثُمَّ (thumma) is used to indicate order.

Allāh guides those who are befitting for guidance, who seek it and turn to it. The evidence:

“As for the one who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allāh and fears Him, and believes in al-Husna, we shall make easy (or smooth) for him the path.” [92:5]

As the servant gave in charity, had taqwā and believed, Allāh honours that person from His bounty because that is the maslahah for the servant.

“As for the one who is stingy (greedy miser) and thinks himself self-sufficient and belies al-Husna, we will make smooth for him the path for evil.” [92:8-10]

The decree of Allāh is punishment for that person as they turned away. This is from His justice, He did not wrong them:

“…Allāh guides not the people who disbelieve” [5:67]
“…Allāh guides not the people, who are Zalimūn” [2:258]
“…Allāh guides not the people who are Fasiqūn” [9:24]

Allāh made these reasons for absence of guidance, it’s not befitting for Allāh that He honour these people.

“Do those who earn evil deeds think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe and do righteous good deeds, in their present life and after their death?..” [45:21]

“Shall We then treat the Muslims like the Mujrimūn?” [68:35]

How can the believers be treated the same as the sinners? What would be injustice is Allāh treating the believers like the sinners.

“…Shall We treat the Muttaqūn (pious) as the Fujjār?” [38:28]