What is your view, what the people do today in the world, and strive for, is it something decreed for them or preordained for them or will their fate in the Hereafter be deterrained by the fact that their Prophets brought them teaching which they did not act upon? I said: Of course, it is something which is predetermined for them and preordained for them. He (further) said: Then, would it not be an injustice (to punish them)? I felt greatly disturbed because of that, and said: Everything is created by Allah and lies in His Power. He would not be questioned as to what He does, but they would be questioned; thereupon he said to me: May Allah have mercy upon you, I did not mean to ask you but for testing your intelligence. Two men of the tribe of Muzaina came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: Allah's Messenger, what is your opinion that the people do in the world and strive for, is something decreed for them; something preordained for them and will their fate in the Hereafter be determined by the fact that their Prophets brought them teachings which they did not act upon. and thus they became deserving of punishment? Thereupon, he said: Of course, it happens as it is decreed by Destiny and preordained for them, and this view is confirmed by this verse of the Book of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious:" Consider the soul and Him Who made it perfect, then breathed into it its sin and its piety" (xci. 8).
The Book of Destiny - Sahih Muslim 2650
This profound narration addresses the intricate matter of divine decree (al-Qadr) and human responsibility. The questioner expresses confusion about whether human actions are predetermined or if people will be held accountable for rejecting prophetic guidance.
Divine Decree and Human Accountability
The Prophet's response affirms that everything occurs according to Allah's preordained decree, yet this does not negate human responsibility. The verse from Surah Ash-Shams (91:8) confirms that Allah imbued the human soul with the capacity to distinguish between sin and piety.
Allah's knowledge encompasses all that was, is, and will be. His decree does not compel humans to sin nor deprive them of free will. Rather, it encompasses His eternal knowledge of the choices His creation will make.
Resolution of Apparent Contradiction
The seeming contradiction between divine decree and human accountability is resolved through understanding that Allah's justice operates within His perfect knowledge. Humans are questioned for choices made through their granted free will, while Allah's actions are beyond questioning due to His absolute wisdom and sovereignty.
The initial discomfort experienced by the questioner mirrors the proper awe one should feel when contemplating divine matters beyond complete human comprehension.
Scholarly Perspective
Classical scholars explain that Allah's decree operates through means (asbāb). He decrees both the ends and the means to achieve them. Human striving constitutes the means through which preordained outcomes manifest.
The Prophet's teaching maintains balance: affirming divine decree while upholding human responsibility, preventing either fatalism or the denial of Allah's all-encompassing knowledge and power.