The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 341
Divine Decree and Determination لهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَ عَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ 126 341 Each one shall have the benefit of the good he does and shall suffer the consequences of the ill he works. It is also said: من عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلِنَفْسِهِ 127 Whoso acts righteously, it is for the good of his own self and whoso does evil bears the burden thereof. Again it is said: فَكَيْفَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ 128 How will it be when they are afflicted with a misfortune on account of that which their hands had wrought aforetime. All these verses show that man has choice in his actions. In this connection Mr. 'Abdullah Ātham has set forth the verse: يَقُولُونَ هَلْ لَّنَا مِنَ الْأَمْرِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ 129 and argues from it that this proves compulsion. He is under a misunderstanding. In this verse the word Amr means administration and governance. This verse sets forth the thinking of those who had said: Had we any share in matters of governance, we would have so planned that the trouble that was encountered in the battle of Uhud would have been avoided. In reply to them God Almighty said: 126 Al-Baqarah, 2:287 [Publisher] 127 Hã Mīm Sajdah, 41:47 [Publisher] 128 Al-Nisa', 4:63 [Publisher] 129 They say: Is there for us any part in the government of af- fairs?'-Al-e-'Imran, 3:155 [Publisher]