Is Man Compelled to Sin or Free to Choose?

The Holy Quran unequivocally emphasizes that human beings are endowed with free will and choice, and are by no means compelled to commit sin or perform good deeds. Allah Almighty has bestowed upon humanity intellect, a pure innate disposition (fitra), the ability to discern right from wrong, as well as prophets and divine scriptures for guidance, enabling them to distinguish the path of guidance from that of error. This freedom of choice forms the cornerstone of human accountability for their actions, as reward and punishment in the afterlife only make sense if individuals had the liberty to choose their path. If humans were compelled to act in a certain way, divine justice would not necessitate holding them accountable. The Quran presents worldly life as a test for humanity. In this arena, humans are constantly faced with temptations and calls to sin on one hand, and the inner voice of their pure nature, divine guidance, and calls to goodness on the other. The decision to choose either of these paths rests entirely with the individual. Numerous verses in the Quran affirm human free will. For instance, in Surah Al-Kahf, verse 29, Allah states: 'Then let him who wills believe and let him who wills disbelieve.' This verse clearly demonstrates the freedom of choice even in the most fundamental matter, which is faith and disbelief. Similarly, in Surah Al-Insan, verse 3, it says: 'Indeed, We guided him to the way, be he grateful or ungrateful.' This verse also effectively illustrates Allah's role as a guide and human beings as choosers. Furthermore, a correct understanding of divine decree (Qada and Qadar) is crucial in this discussion. Some might mistakenly believe that divine decree implies absolute determinism, where everyone's destiny is predetermined, and humans have no role in it. However, from a Quranic perspective, divine decree signifies Allah's foreknowledge of human actions, not their imposition. Allah knows from eternity what path a human being will choose through their free will, but this divine knowledge in no way nullifies the servant's choice. In other words, Allah's knowledge is not the cause of human action but is rather consequent to the human's volitional act. It is similar to a teacher who knows in advance which student will succeed through effort and which will fail due to laziness; this knowledge on the part of the teacher does not cause the student's success or failure, but is a result of the student's own choice and performance. Accountability for actions, repentance, seeking forgiveness, and asking for pardon, which are emphasized throughout the Quran, all bear witness to the fact that humans are beings with free will. If humans were compelled to sin, repentance and remorse would be meaningless, as they would have done something they had no choice but to do. Yet, the Quran repeatedly invites people to repent and turn away from sin, promising forgiveness, which only makes sense under the umbrella of human free will and conscious choice. Moreover, the concept of struggling against the self (jihad al-nafs), battling Satan and desires, mentioned in the Quran, also indicates this power of choice and human ability to overcome negative inclinations. Satan only tempts, and humans have the power to resist and choose the right path, just as Allah states in Surah Ibrahim, verse 22, quoting Satan on the Day of Judgment, that he only tempted and the fault lies with humans themselves for accepting his invitation. In conclusion, the Holy Quran, by presenting a comprehensive and balanced view of humanity, portrays individuals as beings endowed with free will and choice. They possess the power to choose between good and evil, guidance and misguidance, throughout their lives. This free will is a divine gift that underscores human dignity and holds them accountable for their actions. Therefore, sin is a result of human choice and misuse of this free will, not divine compulsion or predestination. Allah has shown the path, provided the means of choice, and explained the consequences of each choice, and it is humanity, by its own will, that chooses the path of felicity or wretchedness.