بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Free Will in Islam | Qaaloo Bala and the Secret of Free Will | Understanding Free Will in Islam | Human Free Will and Destiny in Islam – Quran, Science, and Spiritual Reality Explained | Rizwan Ibn Ali Abdullah
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| Free Will in Islam |
Part 1:
The Divine Covenant - “Qaaloo Balaa” and the Origin of Free Will
Introduction: The Question That Defines Humanity
Why are we here?
Why do we make choices, even when we know, they might lead to harm?
Why would the Pharaoh [Firaun] dare to say “I am your lord, the most high,” and yet a humble believer submit silently before Allah?
These questions lead to one of the most profound realities revealed in the Qur’an - the concept of Free Will (Ikhtiyaar). It is the freedom that defines our existence, the test that shapes our destiny, and the covenant that began before we were ever born.
Before the Earth, before time, before the first heartbeat - a cosmic conversation took place between the Creator and every soul that would ever live. That moment is recorded in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Araaf (7:172):
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِن بَنِي آدَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ شَهِدْنَا “And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam—from their loins—their descendants and made them testify concerning themselves, [saying to them], ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said, ‘Yes, we testify.’” (Surah Al-A‘raf, 7:172)
This was the moment of the Covenant (Mithaq) - where every
human soul acknowledged Allah as its only Lord.
It was not a mere statement; it was a
spiritual signing of responsibility.
By saying “Balaa” (Yes, indeed You are our Lord), we accepted the
duty to
live by truth, seek guidance, and choose righteousness - willingly.
1. The Origin of the Human Will: The Pre-Earthly Covenant
Before Adam عليه السلام was sent to Earth, Allah had already designed a world of choice and consequence. Unlike angels, who act without disobedience, and animals, who act by instinct, humans were created as moral agents — beings capable of thinking, choosing, and learning.
إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا “Indeed, We guided him to the way, be he grateful or ungrateful.” (Surah Al-Insan, 76:3)
This ayah captures the essence of free will: guidance is shown — choice is ours.
Scientific Reflection: The Biology of Choice
Modern neuroscience has discovered that human beings have
executive decision-making centers
in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. This area allows humans to
delay gratification, assess morality, and project long-term
outcomes.
Animals cannot do this. Their choices are bound by instinct and immediate
survival.
So even in our biology, there lies evidence of Allah’s design for moral responsibility — a biological space where intellect (ʿAql) and Nafs (self) meet, and where Free Will becomes real.
2. The Role of Free Will: The Trust (Al-Amanah)
In another profound verse, Allah describes how this freedom of choice was presented as a Trust (Amanah) — one that even the heavens and the mountains refused to bear:
إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَنْ يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا الْإِنسَانُ ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ ظَلُومًا جَهُولًا “Indeed, We offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, and they declined to bear it and feared it; but man undertook it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant.” (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:72)
This Amanah includes Free Will,
Moral Accountability, and
Conscious Obedience.
Humanity accepted it — and that
acceptance became the foundation of our test on Earth.
3. From Heaven to Earth: The Purpose of Descent
When Adam عليه السلام and Hawwa (Eve) were placed in Jannah, they were told to live freely — with one restriction. That single boundary represented the first exercise of Free Will.
Shaytan (Iblis), out of arrogance, refused to bow to Adam and was expelled,
yet given respite — time to mislead humanity.
This dialogue reveals that even Iblis operates under the
permission of Allah, yet exercises
his will to disobey.
قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ الْمُنظَرِينَ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْوَقْتِ الْمَعْلُومِ “He (Allah) said: You are of those reprieved till the Day of the appointed time.” (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:37–38)
Thus began the great drama of existence —
Earth as a testing ground, not a punishment.
Human beings were not sent down for error but
for examination — to prove through actions what they had
promised in the Covenant.
4. The Meaning of “Qaaloo Bala”: The Forgotten Promise
The phrase “Qaaloo Bala” (They said, Yes!) is the echo of our spiritual memory — a divine truth embedded in the human soul.
Why do people instinctively seek meaning?
Why does the heart feel guilty after sin, even when no one sees it?
Because within every soul, there’s a
resonance of that original meeting with Allah — a faint
remembrance that says, “You were made for more.”
فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا “[This is] the natural disposition (Fitrah) Allah instilled in mankind.” (Surah Ar-Rum, 30:30)
Every child is born with that Fitrah — the innate recognition of
Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Every child is born upon the fitrah, then his parents make him a Jew, Christian, or Magian.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1358; Sahih Muslim, 2658)
This hadith links directly to Qaaloo Bala — our original spiritual state. The world around us, society, desires, and Shaytan attempt to veil that memory, but the heart always feels restless until it returns to Allah.
5. The Balance Between Divine Decree (Qadr) and Free Will
A deep question arises:
If Allah knows everything — past, present, and future — then how do we truly
have free will?
This is a question even philosophers and scientists struggle with.
But Islam provides a harmonious understanding:
Allah’s knowledge encompasses all possibilities and outcomes,
yet our choices are still ours — because we act
without compulsion.
“Act, for everyone is facilitated in that for which he was created.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 4949; Sahih Muslim, 2647)
That means — Allah already knows who will choose guidance and who will not, but that knowledge does not force the choice. Just as a teacher knows which student will fail — the student still writes his own exam paper.
Thus, Qadr (Decree) and Ikhtiyaar (Choice) are not opposites. They coexist as Divine Knowledge and Human Action — like two sides of the same mirror.
6. A Scientific Analogy: Choice and Consequence
Consider the law of gravity — fixed, unchangeable.
Yet within it, you are free to jump or stay grounded.
Your choice decides whether you soar with a parachute or fall without one.
Similarly,
Allah’s laws of moral reality
are fixed — good leads to reward, evil leads to loss.
But within those laws, you are free to act. The system of
consequences is not control — it is justice.
Even science supports this moral framework.
Every action in nature creates a reaction — not by force but
by principle.
This mirrors Allah’s statement:
مَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ “Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” (Surah Az-Zalzalah, 99:7–8)
This verse unites both spiritual and scientific truth — the universe itself runs on accountability.
7. The Hidden Proof: Why Free Will Matters
If humans were forced to be good or evil, there would be
no justice in reward or punishment.
But because we choose — every act, every intention, every hesitation — all of
it becomes meaningful.
لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا “That He may test you [to see] which of you is best in deed.” (Surah Al-Mulk, 67:2)
That is the essence of our existence — the test of Ahsan Amal (best action), not the easiest one.
Part 2:
The Test of Free Will — Prophets, Guidance, and Rebellion
1. The Descent of Humanity — From Eden to Earth
فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ “Then when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:38)
This verse marks the beginning of Prophethood — a divine guarantee that Allah will never abandon His creation to darkness.
Free Will, therefore, doesn’t mean “no guidance.” It means a choice between truth and falsehood, light and darkness, remembrance and forgetfulness.
2. The Mission of the Prophets — Reminders of the Forgotten Promise
Allah sent 124,000 prophets (as mentioned in Hadith, Musnad
Ahmad) — each speaking the same truth:
“Worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him.”
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ “And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], ‘Worship Allah and avoid false gods.’” (Surah An-Nahl, 16:36)
Every prophet was a mirror reflecting back the same light
that once touched our souls in the realm of “Qaaloo Bala.”
But humanity’s reaction to that light varied — some remembered, while others
rebelled.
3. Prophet Nuh (Noah) — The Choice Between Patience and Pride
قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ “O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him.” (Surah Al-A‘raf, 7:59)
Nuh عليه السلام preached for 950 years, calling his people to righteousness.
Yet only a few responded. Most mocked him — they chose worldly pride over spiritual truth.
Their free will became their downfall.
The flood that destroyed them wasn’t arbitrary; it was
the manifestation of their own chosen path.
The Qur’an doesn’t say Allah “forced” them into destruction — it says:
وَمَا ظَلَمْنَاهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوا هُمُ الظَّالِمِينَ “We wronged them not, but they wronged themselves.” (Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:76)
Moral lesson: Free Will, when divorced from humility, turns into pride — and pride blinds the heart to truth.
4. Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) — The Freedom to Question and Believe
Ibrahim عليه السلام represents the intellect of faith — a man who used his reason to rediscover the Lord of “Qaaloo Bala.”
He looked at the stars, the moon, the sun — and said:
لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِينَ “I do not love those that set.” (Surah Al-An‘am, 6:76)
This wasn’t disbelief — it was spiritual reasoning.
He used Free Will not to rebel, but to search.
He challenged his father and his people not out of ego, but truth.
قَالَ أَتَعْبُدُونَ مَا تَنْحِتُونَ وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ “Do you worship that which you carve, while Allah created you and what you do?” (Surah As-Saffat, 37:95–96)
Scientific Insight
In cognitive science, this is known as
metacognition
— the ability to think about one’s own thinking.
Ibrahim عليه السلام exercised this capacity perfectly —
the true function of Free Will: to discern reality beyond
conditioning.
5. Pharaoh [Firaun] — The Arrogance of Power
Then came Pharaoh (Firawn) - the classic example of a man intoxicated by his own free will.
فَقَالَ أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ “He said: I am your Lord, the Most High.” (Surah An-Nazi‘at, 79:24)
This was not ignorance — it was conscious defiance.
He saw signs, he heard truth, yet he rejected it because submission would have
cost him power.
Even when Musa عليه السلام showed him miracles — the staff, the hand, the
parting sea — Pharaoh’s ego blinded him until the last
breath.
When drowning, he declared faith:
آمَنتُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ “I believe that there is no deity except the One in whom the Children of Israel believe.” (Surah Yunus, 10:90)
But it was too late — his time of choice had ended, and accountability began.
آلآنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ “Now? And you disobeyed before and were of the corrupters.” (Surah Yunus, 10:91)
Lesson:
Free Will is powerful, but time-bound.
It ends when the soul reaches the throat — and the unseen becomes seen.
6. Qarun and Nimrod — The Illusions of Wealth and Logic
Qarun (Korah): The Tyranny of Possession
Qarun was from the people of Musa عليه السلام, yet he became arrogant because of his wealth:
قَالَ إِنَّمَا أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عِندِي “He said: I was only given it because of knowledge I have.” (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:78)
He saw his wealth as self-made, not God-given — a reflection of modern
arrogance, the “I earned it, I deserve it” mentality.
But Allah caused the earth to swallow him — literally demonstrating that
what you think you own can own you.
Nimrod: The Logic of Denial
Nimrod argued with Ibrahim عليه السلام:
أَنَا أُحْيِي وَأُمِيتُ “I give life and cause death.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:258)
When Ibrahim challenged him —
“Allah brings the sun from the east, so bring it from the west.”
—
he was silenced.
Modern Reflection:
Today, people claim autonomy in the same spirit:
“My body, my choice; my life, my rules.”
But the Qur’an warns that
absolute freedom without morality is just
delayed destruction.
7. The Role of Messengers — The Balance Between Warning and Mercy
Every Prophet came with two missions:
- Inzaar (Warning): against arrogance and corruption
- Tabshir (Glad tidings): for those who submit
رُّسُلًا مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌۢ بَعْدَ ٱلرُّسُلِ “Messengers as bringers of good tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against Allah after the messengers.” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:165)
The prophets didn’t compel belief — they
presented choice.
Even the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was told:
فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ “So remind, [O Muhammad]; you are only a reminder. You are not a controller over them.” (Surah Al-Ghashiyah, 88:21–22)
This is the perfect model of divine justice — Allah guides, warns, and reminds — but never forces.
8. The Science of Guidance: How the Heart Makes Moral Choices
Modern studies in neuroethics reveal that
moral decision-making involves emotional and rational centers
working together.
When a person continually commits sins, these pathways dull — the conscience
becomes “numb.”
كَلَّا بَلْ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِم مَّا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ “No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts because of what they used to earn.” (Surah Al-Mutaffifin, 83:14)
Science calls it moral desensitization — Islam calls it Qaswat al-Qalb (hardness of heart).
This shows that every wrong choice not only affects our afterlife but physically reshapes our brain and soul — a literal loss of spiritual sensitivity.
9. The Inner Jihad — The Battlefield of Free Will
The Prophet ﷺ said after returning from battle:
“We have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad — the struggle against the self.” (Bayhaqi, Shu'ab al-Iman, 4768)
Every human being lives in this internal war between
Nafs (desire) and Aql (reason).
Free Will is the sword between them.
The Qur’an divides the soul into three states:
- An-Nafs al-Ammarah (commanding to evil) — Surah Yusuf 12:53
- An-Nafs al-Lawwamah (self-reproaching) — Surah Al-Qiyamah 75:2
- An-Nafs al-Mutma’innah (tranquil soul) — Surah Al-Fajr 89:27
Each state reflects how a person uses or abuses Free Will.
It’s not static — you can rise or fall based on your daily decisions.
Part 3:
The Misuse of Freedom - Pharaoh, Nimrod, Qarun, and the Fall of Civilizations
1. The Law of Moral Gravity
Just as physical gravity pulls objects downward, there is a moral gravity in the universe — a divine law that ensures every act of pride or injustice eventually brings a downfall.
وَتِلْكَ الْقُرَىٰ أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا وَجَعَلْنَا لِمَهْلِكِهِم مَّوْعِدًا “And those towns — We destroyed them when they wronged themselves, and We appointed for their destruction a set time.” (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:59)
Human freedom, therefore, is not unlimited. It operates under the boundaries of Divine Law. When a people cross those limits — they fall, not because Allah is cruel, but because they violated the laws of their own soul.
2. Pharaoh (Firaun): When Power Becomes a God
The Rise of Pharaoh [Firaun]
He ruled Egypt with absolute control, enslaving Bani Israil, killing their sons, and claiming divinity. His infamous words are recorded in the Qur’an:
فَقَالَ أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ “He said: I am your Lord, the Most High.” (Surah An-Nazi‘at, 79:24)
That statement represents the height of human arrogance — when a man forgets the day he said “Qaaloo Bala” and declares himself a god.
Allah sent Musa (Moses) عليه السلام as a reminder:
فَقُلْ هَل لَّكَ إِلَىٰ أَن تَزَكَّىٰ وَأَهْدِيَكَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَتَخْشَىٰ “Will you purify yourself? And shall I guide you to your Lord so that you may fear Him?” (Surah An-Nazi‘at, 79:18–19)
But Pharaoh rejected the message — using his Free Will to oppress rather than repent.
The Consequence: A Lesson for All Ages
Allah drowned him in the very sea he used to claim dominion over. Yet, in His wisdom, Allah preserved Pharaoh’s body as an eternal sign:
فَالْيَوْمَ نُنجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آيَةً “So today We will preserve your body so that you may be a sign for those after you.” (Surah Yunus, 10:92)
Scientific Confirmation
In 1898, the mummy of Pharaoh Ramses II (believed by many scholars to be the Pharaoh of Musa) was discovered, astonishingly well-preserved. When examined by French pathologist Dr. Maurice Bucaille, he remarked how the Qur’an accurately describes his preservation, centuries before modern discovery.
Lesson: Free Will without humility transforms a man into his own god — and then destroys him.
3. Nimrod (Namrood): The Illusion of Rational Power
Nimrod, the king who debated with Ibrahim عليه السلام, is another symbol of human arrogance.
أَنَا أُحْيِي وَأُمِيتُ “I give life and cause death.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:258)
He brought two prisoners — freeing one, killing the other — claiming to have performed “life and death.” Then Ibrahim silenced him with one sentence:
فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْتِي بِالشَّمْسِ مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ فَأْتِ بِهَا مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ “Indeed, Allah brings the sun from the east, so bring it from the west.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:258)
Modern Analogy: Today’s “Nimrods” are those who think science replaces God — who say, “We can control nature, edit genes, defy death.” But as Ibrahim’s logic remains eternal: you can manipulate creation, but you cannot become the Creator.
End of Nimrod: According to Islamic tradition, Allah destroyed him through a single mosquito that entered his brain — a symbol of how the smallest of Allah’s creations can destroy the mightiest of men.
4. Qaarun (Korah): The Arrogance of Wealth
Qarun was from the people of Musa عليه السلام, but his wealth blinded him.
إِنَّ قَارُونَ كَانَ مِن قَوْمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ “Indeed, Qarun was from the people of Musa, but he tyrannized them.” (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:76)
His arrogance reached its peak when he said:
إِنَّمَا أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ عِندِي “I was only given it because of knowledge I have.” (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:78)
He forgot that wealth is a trust (Amanah), not a right. The people advised him:
وَابْتَغِ فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا “Seek the Hereafter through what Allah has given you, but do not forget your share of the world.” (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:77)
But Qarun refused. His misuse of wealth and arrogance in Free Will led to his destruction.
فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِ وَبِدَارِهِ الْأَرْضَ “So We caused the earth to swallow him and his home.” (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:81)
Modern Reflection: Qarun lives in every age — in the hearts of those who measure success by bank balance, not by moral balance. When Free Will bows to greed, man becomes a slave of his possessions.
5. The People of Aad and Thamuud: When Nations Forget Gratitude
Aad — The Civilization of Strength
Aad were powerful, technologically advanced, and wealthy. They built monumental cities in the sands of Arabia — yet their pride made them forget Allah.
فَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَقَالُوا مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً “As for Aad, they were arrogant in the land without right and said, ‘Who is mightier than us in strength?’” (Surah Fussilat, 41:15)
Allah answered their arrogance with a force they could not withstand — a furious wind that uprooted them.
وَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَأُهْلِكُوا بِرِيحٍ صَرْصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍ “And as for Aad, they were destroyed by a screaming, violent wind.” (Surah Al-Haqqah, 69:6)
Scientific Parallel: Archaeologists have discovered traces of an ancient Arabian civilization, “Ubar” — sometimes called Iram of the Pillars (mentioned in Surah Al-Fajr, 89:7). Satellite imagery revealed it had been swallowed by sandstorms, precisely as the Qur’an described.
Thamud — The Civilization of Intellect
Thamud were skilled architects who carved homes from mountains. They were given a sign — the she-camel (Naqatullah) — as a test of obedience. Instead of respect, they killed her.
فَعَقَرُوا النَّاقَةَ وَعَتَوْا عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ “But they hamstrung the she-camel and rebelled against the command of their Lord.” (Surah Al-A‘raf, 7:77)
The result was a mighty blast that annihilated them.
فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ “So the earthquake seized them, and they became motionless in their homes.” (Surah Al-A‘raf, 7:78)
Lesson: When knowledge and skill are divorced from humility and morality, civilization collapses under its own weight.
6. Free Will and the Pattern of Destruction
When we study all these examples — Pharaoh, Nimrod, Qarun, Aad, Thamud — a divine pattern appears:
| Stage | Human Behavior | Divine Response |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Blessing | Prosperity, Power, Knowledge | Test through Gratitude |
| 2. Arrogance | Pride, Self-Worship, Injustice | Warnings through Prophets |
| 3. Rejection | Mockery of Truth, Moral Decay | Delay for Repentance |
| 4. Destruction | Continuation in Sin | Sudden Divine Justice |
This pattern repeats throughout history — not because Allah changes, but because human nature repeats its mistakes.
7. The Quranic Philosophy of History
Allah tells us repeatedly to travel and observe:
فَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا مِن قَبْلُ “So travel through the land and see how was the end of those before.” (Surah Ar-Rum, 30:42)
This is not merely historical curiosity — it’s spiritual archaeology. We are meant to study the ruins of past civilizations to learn how freedom without faith leads to decay.
When Free Will is guided by Qur’an, it creates civilizations like that of the early Muslims — built on justice, compassion, and knowledge. When it is driven by ego and greed, it ends like Pharaoh’s empire — powerful yet hollow.
8. The Science of Collapse — A Modern Reflection
Historians like Ibn Khaldun (in Muqaddimah) and modern thinkers like Toynbee have observed that every civilization falls when moral decay sets in — long before political or economic collapse.
Modern science confirms that societal stress, corruption, and inequality create systemic failure. The Qur’an summarized this over 1400 years ago:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ “Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves.” (Surah Ar-Ra‘d, 13:11)
This is both spiritual and sociological truth — moral decay begins in the heart and manifests in the world.
9. Modern Parallels — The Age of “Neo-Pharaohs”
Today’s “Pharaohs” are not kings on thrones — they are systems built on arrogance:
- Economic empires that enslave the poor through usury (Sood)
- Media powers that normalize sin
- Nations that claim absolute moral autonomy — “We decide what is right or wrong”
All are forms of modern shirk (association with Allah) — giving human law supremacy over Divine Law.
Yet, as history shows — the stronger the arrogance, the closer the fall.
Part 4:
The Reality of Accountability — The Day of Resurrection (Saazaa & Jazaa)
1. The Purpose of Life and the Proof of Resurrection
الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا “He who created death and life to test you [to see] which of you is best in deeds.” (Surah Al-Mulk, 67:2)
This life, therefore, is not random. It is a stage of examination, where Free Will is tested through time, temptation, and truth. But an exam is meaningless without a result — and that result is the Day of Resurrection (Yawm al-Qiyāmah).
أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ عَبَثًا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ “Did you think that We created you aimlessly and that you would not be returned to Us?” (Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:115)
Just as every seed buried in soil resurrects into life, so will every soul buried in earth rise again — not by accident, but by Divine Command.
2. The Blowing of the Trumpet — The End of Free Will
وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَصَعِقَ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا مَن شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ نُفِخَ فِيهِ أُخْرَىٰ فَإِذَا هُمْ قِيَامٌ يَنظُرُونَ “And the trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and the earth will fall dead, except whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown again, and behold, they will be standing, looking on.” (Surah Az-Zumar, 39:68)
That will be the end of choice. From that moment on, Free Will will cease to operate. Human beings will no longer be “deciders” — they will be respondents, standing before their Creator to answer for how they used their freedom.
3. The Gathering (Al-Hashr) — The Assembly of Souls
يَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ الْمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى الرَّحْمَـٰنِ وَفْدًا وَنَسُوقُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ وِرْدًا “The Day We will gather the righteous to the Most Merciful as honored guests, and drive the sinners to Hell, thirsty.” (Surah Maryam, 19:85–86)
The ground will be flat, no shadows, no mountains, no escape. Every soul — from the first to the last — will be present. Even Pharaoh, Qarun, and Nimrod will rise, not as kings, but as prisoners of their own deeds.
“On the Day of Judgment, the sun will be brought near until it is a mile away from the people, and they will be submerged in sweat according to their deeds.” (Sahih Muslim, 2864)
4. The Record of Deeds (Kitāb al-A‘māl)
مَا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ “Not a word does he utter except that with him is an observer prepared (to record).” (Surah Qaf, 50:18)
On that Day, these records will be presented:
وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَٰذَا الْكِتَابِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصَاهَا “And the Book will be placed, and you will see the criminals fearful of what is in it. They will say, ‘Woe to us! What is this Book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?’” (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:49)
Even science today supports the Qur’anic concept of “recorded deeds.” Every action leaves a trace, every sound a wave, every thought a pattern — nothing truly disappears. So imagine Divine recording beyond physical limits — an eternal consciousness archive.
5. The Scales of Justice (Mizān)
وَنَضَعُ الْمَوَازِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئًا “We shall set up the scales of justice for the Day of Judgment, so no soul will be wronged in the least.” (Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:47)
The scales will measure not just deeds, but intentions — sincerity, humility, justice, and mercy.
“The heaviest thing on the Scale on the Day of Judgment will be good character.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, 4182)
“There will be nothing heavier on the Scale than the remembrance of Allah.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 3417)
These teachings remind us that Free Will isn’t measured by quantity of action, but by quality of sincerity.
6. The Witnesses — When the Body Speaks
يَوْمَ تَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ وَأَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ “The Day when their tongues, their hands, and their feet will testify against them for what they used to do.” (Surah An-Nur, 24:24)
On that Day, there will be no room for denial. Our own limbs will testify against us — every glance, every touch, every word recorded in divine precision.
Modern science has already uncovered that cells retain molecular memory and store information far beyond our conscious awareness. If human technology can recover voices from ancient wax cylinders, what then of Allah’s ability to make even dust bear witness?
Our bodies will become the courtroom of truth.
7. The Divine Judgment — Perfect Justice, Infinite Mercy
Allah is Al-‘Adl (The Just) and Ar-Rahmān (The Most Merciful). His judgment will be absolutely fair, yet overflowing with compassion.
“Allah has written mercy upon Himself. My mercy prevails over My wrath.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 7422 ; Sahih Muslim 2751)
Even on that Day, Allah will search for reasons to forgive — a hidden charity, a quiet repentance, a tear shed in humility. But for those who used their Free Will to harm, deceive, and deny, the justice will be exact:
فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ “Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” (Surah Az-Zalzalah 99:7-8)
8. The Bridge (Sirāt) and the Scales of Faith
“The bridge will be laid across Hell. I will be the first to cross it. The prayers of the prophets that Day will be: ‘O Allah, save us, save us.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6573)
The righteous will pass swiftly, guided by their light of faith, while hypocrites will stumble in darkness:
يَسْعَىٰ نُورُهُم بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِمْ “Their light will run before them and on their right.” (Surah At-Tahrim 66:8)
This light is the energy of faith itself — the glow of obedience that illuminates the path across eternity.
9. Paradise and Hell — The Final Destinies
Paradise (Jazā — Reward)
جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا “Gardens of perpetual residence which they will enter.” (Surah Al-Ra‘d 13:23)
Every unfulfilled longing of goodness will be granted there — peace, love, nearness to Allah, and eternal companionship.
سَلَامٌ قَوْلًا مِّن رَّبٍّ رَّحِيمٍ “‘Peace,’ a word from a Merciful Lord.” (Surah Ya-Sin 36:58)
Hell (Saazā — Consequence)
وَأَمَّا مَنْ طَغَىٰ وَآثَرَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ “But as for he who transgressed and preferred the worldly life, then indeed Hellfire will be his home.” (Surah An-Nazi‘at 79:37-39)
Hell is not revenge; it is the manifestation of choices — the natural end of those who used Free Will to corrupt, deny, and oppress.
10. The Scientific Parable — Cause, Effect, and Accountability
Physics teaches that energy is never destroyed; it transforms. Likewise, no deed vanishes — it converts to reward or punishment.
يَوْمَ تَجِدُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ مُّحْضَرًا وَمَا عَمِلَتْ مِن سُوءٍ “The Day when every soul will find what it did of good brought forth, and what it did of evil.” (Surah Āl-‘Imrān 3:30)
This is the moral conservation law of the universe — nothing is lost; everything returns to its source.
11. The Prophet’s Intercession (Shafā‘ah)
“My intercession is for those of my Ummah who committed major sins.” (Sunan Abu Dawood 4739)
Through the mercy of Muhammad ﷺ, countless souls will be forgiven — because he represents perfect alignment of Divine and human will.
12. The End of Judgment — Eternal Realization
يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنسَانُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًا فَمُلَاقِيهِ “O mankind, you are laboring toward your Lord with great exertion and will meet Him.” (Surah Al-Inshiqāq 84:6)
At that moment, the journey from Qaaloo Bala to Qiyāmah will make perfect sense. We will see that Free Will was given not for pleasure but for purpose; not for independence but for intelligent submission.
Part 5:
Free Will in the Modern Age — Science, Morality, and Returning to
Allah
1. The Modern Paradox: Freedom Without Purpose
Today freedom is celebrated as the highest virtue. People cry, “My life, my body, my choice.” But freedom without purpose is merely enslavement to the nafs.
أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ “Have you seen the one who takes his own desires as his god?” (Surah Al-Jāthiyah 45:23)
The idols of stone have vanished; the idols of self remain. True freedom is not doing whatever you wish, but wishing what Allah wills.
2. The Science of Decision-Making — Modern Proof of an Ancient Truth
Neuroscience shows that the prefrontal cortex allows humans to weigh consequences, resist impulses, and choose morality — proving that we are designed for responsibility.
وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّاهَا فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَاهَا “And by the soul and He who proportioned it, and inspired it with its wickedness and its righteousness.” (Surah Ash-Shams 91:7-8)
Science and revelation thus agree: man is aware of both temptation and conscience — the test is which he chooses.
3. The Psychological Reality — The Illusion of Choice
Psychology reveals that most “choices” are shaped by environment and desire. Media and corporations manipulate preference and call it freedom. Islam calls for Tazkiyah — purification so that the intellect can choose clearly.
“The strong person is not the one who defeats others but the one who controls himself when angry.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6114; Sahih Muslim 2609)
True Free Will is self-mastery — the courage to say “no” when the world says “yes.”
4. The Modern Pharaohs — Systems of Deception
Pharaoh’s spirit survives in modern systems:
- Economic Pharaohs — interest-based slavery and greed;
- Cultural Pharaohs — media that glamorizes sin;
- Scientific Pharaohs — denial of the Creator because He cannot be measured.
Just as Pharaoh said “I am your Lord most high”, today humanity proclaims: “We define morality.” Yet history proves: every empire that deifies itself eventually falls.
5. The Social Consequences — Freedom Without Faith
When freedom is cut off from revelation, chaos follows — families break, addictions rise, anxiety spreads, and meaning fades.
وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا “Whoever turns away from My remembrance will have a life of hardship.” (Surah Tā-Hā 20:124)
Material abundance without spiritual direction is misery in disguise.
6. The Return to Allah — Rediscovering True Freedom
فَفِرُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ “So flee to Allah.” (Surah Adh-Dhāriyāt 51:50)
To obey Allah is to be free from the tyranny of desire. The Prophet ﷺ lived this freedom — humble, forgiving, detached from the world:
“The world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.” (Sahih Muslim 2956)
7. The Qur’an and Modern Science — Harmony, Not Conflict
Science explores the how; revelation explains the why. Quantum physics reveals unseen laws — echoing al-Qadr; cosmology confirms a created beginning — echoing “Kun Fayakūn.” When honest, science becomes a mirror of divine order, not its rival.
8. The Ethical Crisis — Redefining Morality Without God
إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ “Judgment belongs only to Allah.” (Surah Yūsuf 12:40)
Without revelation, morality becomes opinion. Islam restores the anchor: right and wrong are defined by the One who knows creation best.
9. The Resurrection of Faith — A Spiritual Reawakening
Despite materialism, hearts around the world are awakening. Youth search for meaning; scientists ponder design. This is the echo of “Qaaloo Bala” rising again — the soul remembering its ancient covenant: “Yes, You are my Lord.”
10. The Final Synthesis — Freedom as a Divine Trust
| Stage | Reality | Qur’anic Truth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – Origin | We accepted Allah as our Lord before birth. | “Am I not your Lord?” They said “Yes.” (7:172) |
| 2 – Life | Earth is the test of Free Will. | “We guided him to the path, grateful or ungrateful.” (76:3) |
| 3 – Misuse | Arrogance leads to destruction. | “They wronged themselves.” (43:76) |
| 4 – Accountability | Every choice recorded and judged. | “Whoever does an atom’s weight of good or evil will see it.” (99:7-8) |
| 5 – Return | True freedom is submission to Allah. | “So flee to Allah.” (51:50) |
Conclusion: Human Freedom
From the covenant of Qaaloo Bala to the confusion of the modern world, from Pharaoh’s[Firaun] arrogance to the believer’s humility, from Free Will to Final Judgment — the story of humanity is the story of choice.
Freedom is not doing as you wish — it is wishing as Allah wills.
The soul’s journey is not to become free, but to return to the true freedom of obedience, where intellect, faith, and love unite in remembrance of the One who gave them life.
رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
“My Lord, increase me in knowledge.”
(Qur’an 20:114)
اَللّٰهُمَّ أَرِنَا الْحَقَّ حَقًّا وَارْزُقْنَا اتِّبَاعَهُ،
وَأَرِنَا الْبَاطِلَ بَاطِلًا وَارْزُقْنَا اجْتِنَابَهُ،
وَلَا تَجْعَلْهُ مُلْتَبِسًا عَلَيْنَا فَنَضِلَّ
“O Allah, show us the truth as truth and grant us the ability to follow it. Show us falsehood as falsehood and grant us the ability to avoid it. Do not make it unclear to us, lest we go astray.”
اللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ كَمَا أَمَرْتَ،
وَكَمَا صَلَّى نَبِيُّنَا مُحَمَّدٌ ﷺ
وَارْزُقْنَا الْخُشُوعَ وَالْإِخْلَاصَ فِي الْعِبَادَةِ.
🌸 Jazakumullahu Khayran for reading.
🌙 May peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
✍️ Written By:
Rizwan Ibn Ali Abdullah
Student of Islam and Science | Researcher | Thinker | Against Sectarianism |
Reviving Ummah | Qur'an and Sunnah
© 2019– Rizwan Ibn Ali Abdullah. All Rights Reserved.
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