All over the world and within all communities - irrespective...

All over the world and within all communities - irrespective of whether they are materialists or Allah-worshippers - punishments have been prescribed for the criminals. But are these punishments for acts that they were compelled to perform?! When someone transgresses upon their interests, even the advocates of the doctrine of jabr clamour for justice and, considering him to be guilty, drag him to the courts of law!

In short, if man truly had no choice of his own, what could repentance possibly mean? Why then the reproach and censure? Can one, whose hands and feet tremble involuntarily, be rebuked and criticized? Why are those, who perform good acts, praised and encouraged? But do they possess choice of their own that they shall continue their good acts as a result of this encouragement? Basically, with the acknowledgement of the influence of education, the concept of jabr breaks down.

In addition, issues related to ethics, without acknowledging the concept of freedom of will, become totally meaningless. If we are compelled in our acts, what is the meaning of repentance? Why should one yearn and rue? Placing a compelled person on trial is one of the most oppressive of acts, and punishing him is worse. All these indicate that the concept of freedom of will is inherent to all humans, and in accordance with the conscience of the entire mankind.

It is not just the general public, but even the learned class, the philosophers and the proponents of jabr too, in practice, accept ikhtiyar. اأَلْجَبَرِرِيُّونَ اإِخْتِيَارِِيُّيُونَ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ! “Those, who profess the doctrine of 'jabr' are, (in practice) the proponents of the doctrine of 'ikhtiyar', but only they realize it not.” It is interesting to note that the Noble Qur’an has repeatedly emphasized this issue too.

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