Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

it is said that every thing is done, if and only if Allah wish, otherwise not. when a person do any thing wrong(sin) then he did that sin only Allah wish otherwise it is not possible, right? then why we will be punished for the sin, cos every thing is done if Allah wish? would u pls explain it to me. i do not want to make u confuse, as a Muslim i do not have any problem with this but sometime this question arise in my mind and i think this should be clear to me. so pls explain.

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Answer:

Sin is done by Allah’s will

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

There is absolutely no doubt in the Truth that whatever happens in this Universe, it happens with the Will of Allah.  Not even a leaf falls out of a tree, nor a seed sprouts in the furthest corner of the earth, but our Almighty Lord has full knowledge of it.  He indeed is the All Mighty, All Powerful.

The question arises that why did Allah create evil, or why does He allow people to sin and do evil deeds?   

Allah says in the Holy Quran in Chapter 67 Surah Al Mulk verse 2:He (Allah) created death and life that He may test you, to see which of you is the best in deeds.

The truth is that Allah created us, and gave us intelligence and a free will, for a test…. And for a person to be tested, it was necessary that good and evil both be presented in front of him; so that the human being, who has been bestowed with the power of intelligence and free will, is able to choose what he wills for himself.    If Allah only allowed people to do good deeds, then it would not have been a fair test.  For a test to be fair, one has to be provided with both right and wrong … and the person who has done his study and hard work, will recognize the right from the wrong, and do the right.  But if a person is careless and unprepared, he will use conjecture and guesswork, instead of intelligence, and do as he desires; and thus fail the test miserably.

There is a difference between the Will or Permission of Allah, and the Pleasure of Allah.  Allah created man and gave him intelligence and a free will to do what he wants.   If a person chooses to use his intelligence, and follow the guidance sent by his Creator, Allah allows and permits him to take this path, and is pleased with him.

But, if a person, with his own free will, chooses to deny and disobey the guidance sent by Allah, but instead makes his own set of rules and follows his own desire, Allah allows and permits the person to take this path of falsehood, but He is displeased with him.

The test is for a limited time, and when this time is over,  all will be gathered in the Just Court of Allah,  and the results will be announced of who passed the test of life,  and who failed it!   

To understand the concept better, allow me to relate a worldly example to you.   Say, a teacher tests her students, and when standing behind the student who is answering the test questions, she sees that the student is writing all the right answers.  She allows the student to complete his test, and is pleased with the preparation of the student. Then she stands and looks over to the answers of another student, who is writing all the answers wrong.  She allows even this student to complete his test and does not say a word to him, but is displeased with him, and feels sorry for the student that he did not prepare or accept her teachings during the whole semester, and thus will fail miserably.

For both students, the teacher allows them to finish their test; and when the test is over, she will announce the results of who has passed and who has failed.   

Similarly, Allah allows both the good and the bad to keep on working their deeds.    The one who does good, Allah allows him, and is also pleased with him. But when one does evil, Allah still allows him, but is displeased with him.  And this test is only for a limited time, and when this test is over, Allah will announce the results of who has passed this test of life, and who has failed it.

Therefore, its not that Allah cannot stop the evil or is helpless against the workers of evil.  He is the Almighty, All Wise.   If He had so willed, He could have forced everyone to do only good deeds; but then the purpose of the test would be defeated!    Therefore, he has given man a free will for a limited time period of one life; and He has sent His Prophets and revealed His Books to teach and guide mankind to the syllabus and way of life acceptable to Him.  And then He leaves man free to choose between accepting or denying his guidance.  Whoever accepts and follows the course and guidance sent by Allah, passes the test and earns the Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah.  And whoever denies and rejects the guidance sent by Allah, he fails the test and deserves the Wrath and Anger of Allah Subhanah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan