The second type of responsibility which we have within the...

The second type of responsibility which we have within the faith of Islam is referred to as the “*Responsibility of the Outcome.” * By this we mean that the outcome or end result of the act is also the responsibility of the person.

Just like a person sometimes says, ‘I want such and such of an outcome for this act of mine.’ However as for how that outcome will come about - through what channels and preliminary steps, by what conditions and how these will all be carried out – we must state that they should be carried out in the best possible way, however there is not one single, firm and describable way that it must be done.

Rather, the ways, methods and through what channels this outcome can come about changes with time and place. Let me give you an example. Let us suppose that you have a difficulty – for example, one of your friends is in prison. There is a time where you expect a specific task to be completed from a specific person in relation to this trouble that you and your friend are in.

For example, your friend gives another person a letter and tells him to make sure that he gives this letter to a particular person - and that too at a certain time. Obviously we can say that this letter was written for a purpose and goal, however the other party is only responsible to deliver the letter to the person whom you specified. Another time, you want to reach the outcome by yourself directly and thus, have no need for the preliminary steps.

You tell your friend that you want him to help you get out of prison - however through what ways and means should be used - these are not specified by you. The person himself must go and see what the best way is to carry out this task. Usually, these sorts of responsibilities take form where the means to carry out the task is not of one type – meaning that the mode varies.

In one instance, the person must make use of a particular way and method, and at another time, he must make use of another method – the specialties of the time and place that he is in and in addition, the other particulars, may differ. In these sorts of instances, the person must sit down, ponder, think and come up with the best possible means to reach an outcome. Within the religion of Islam, we have both types of responsibilities.