Summary
This article explains that human freedom and personal choice are limited by Allah’s authority, guidance, and laws. It emphasizes that life is a divine test in which choices carry moral, social, spiritual, and eternal consequences.
“This is of the bounty of my Lord, that He may try me whether I give thanks or am ungrateful.” [Surah Al Ankabut: 40]
Many of us desire to live life the way we want, without being bound by any rules or laws. The reality is that no one can live a life entirely upon his own choice. A person cannot drive past a red light without receiving a penalty. He cannot fly like a bird. He cannot do everything or have everything as per your choice, even though it is your life. The truth is that a person cannot even govern the number of days of his life, advancing or delaying the time of his death for even a moment. However, there are certain things we can do based upon our own will. Our choices can be morally wrong or morally right. We can be generous or miser. Such choices are an examination of our faith in Allah and His laws which He has set up for us. Is It Really My Life? Allah has declared in many places in His Book that everything belongs to Him because He is the creator and Lord of everything. No one has any share in creation. Thus, even the ownership of life also belongs to Him.“Everything in the Heavens and in the earth belongs to Allah.” [Surah AnNisa’: 131 & Surah Zukhruf:85]
“Or were they created by nothing, or are they their own creators?” [Surah At-Tur:35]
That is why suicide or the killing of an innocent human life is prohibited in Islam, and it is considered as one of the major sins. In plain words, your life is not really yours. One cannot even know what is stored for him for tomorrow or how he will face death and when.“No one knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no one knows in which land he will die. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” [ Surah Luqman: 34]
Allah is the Governor of the Universes Whatever happens, happens only by Allah’s will and permission. Therefore, it is He who has authority on how to govern the life that you live. On the other hand, Satanic temptations exist, which are the desires, which drag you away from His guidance. Allah cautions us about this by saying,“Do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you, We prescribed a law and a method.” [Surah Al Maidah: 48]
Allah Makes Us Undergo Tests About Our Choices Too Life is a test, and so we come across many situations where we are tempted or instigated to follow our desires which may contradict Allah’s commands of Allah. These tests may come by means of people who claim to be our well-wishers, who incite us to shed away our religious beliefs and cultural identities and lifestyles, calling them outdated, and instead direct us towards the freedom of living as per our desires. If religious instructions come in the way, they ask us to block them. Such temptations are part of the real tests of this life,“He is the One Who created death and life in order to test which of you is best in deeds.” [Surah Al Mulk:2]
“Every soul will taste death. And We test you with good and evil as a trial, then to Us you will all be returned” [Surah AlAnbiya: 35]
Allah Has Already Instructed What Not To Choose Recall the story of Adam when he was told by Allah,“O Adam, dwell you and your wife, in Paradise and eat therefrom in [ease and] abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.” [Surah Al Baqarah: 35]
Adam was permitted to eat from any and all things from Paradise – and there are innumerable things in Paradise to eat – except for one thing. However, he inclined toward eating from that thing which he was prohibited from. Iblis persuaded him and his wife to eat from that tree. Thus, he preferred his choice over the choice of Allah, and so he was removed from Paradise and sent down to earth. Thus, Allah cautions the progeny of Adam,“O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts.” [Surah Al A’raf: 27]
If a choice tempts you and you know well that it is against what Allah has commanded, then know that the choice is not yours but designed by Satan to trap you and direct you toward the Hellfire. Between The Two Choices, The Right and The Wrong Choosing what Allah has commanded over what our nafs desire is a part of Faith. Such a choice is guaranteed success with the help of Allah. Allah says,“There is no compulsion in religion. The Right Way stands clearly distinguished from the wrong. Hence he who rejects the evil ones and believes in Allah has indeed taken hold of the firm, unbreakable handle.” [Surah Al Baqarah: 256]
Your Choices Also Have Responsibilities and Consequences Choices affect our lives and also the lives of the people around us. If someone decides to incline towards alcoholism, not only will he become affected by his intoxication, but he will also affect the people around him, who will also suffer because of it. He may even drive drunk, which will affect him and the motorist or pedestrians around him, as he may become the source of an accident. If someone chooses to become a gambler and thus lose his wealth, then this not only affects him but also his family, who may begin to suffer from poverty. Your Choice is a Social Responsibility Consider the impact of your choices on society as a whole. For instance, if someone chooses to smoke in public, it not only affects his health but also the health of those around them. If you choose to save your money from blowing away in lavish restaurants or buying unwanted stuff, you are a socially responsible person because that money will be useful to your family and other good causes. Your Choice Has a Spiritual Obligation to Fulfill Every good act done to please Allah and every evil act discarded to please Allah is the right choice. It brings honor in this life and hereafter. To achieve this you must apply the following verse, which offers a cautionary note and assurance of something better than you desire,“Do not let your eyes crave what We have allowed some of the disbelievers to enjoy; the fleeting splendor of this worldly life, which We test them with. But your Lord’s provision is far better and more lasting.” [Surah At-Taha: 131]
Consequences of Choices on Your Life and Your Hereafter Every choice we make has consequences, and we must be prepared to face them. For example, if someone chooses to enjoy his college days partying, having fun, and not studying, then he might end up being unemployed or running short of money. At times, choices can even land a person in the Hellfire, such as the wives of Prophet Noah and Prophet Lut. They chose the wrong friends and evil deeds.“Allah presents an example of those who disbelieved: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two of Our righteous servants but betrayed them so they [i.e., those prophets] did not avail them from Allah at all, and it was said, “Enter the Fire with those who enter.” [Surah At-Tahrim:10]
Allah guides towards good and Satan tempts towards evil. The choice is up to us whether we accept the call of Allah or fall for the temptation of Satan. Allah warns us in His Book from choosing the satanic whispers, which are full of conjectures and lies,“And if you obey most of those in the earth, they will lead you astray from Allah’s way; they follow but conjecture and they only lie.” [Surah Al-An’am:116]
“We said: Get you down from here, all of you, and guidance shall come to you from Me, then, whoever will follow My guidance need have no fear, nor shall they grieve.” [Surah Al Baqarah:38]
The choice is yours. Are you really making the right choice? The choices we make in our lives will be put up in our results on the Day of Judgment.Frequently Asked Question
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