By Sh Mohamed Metwalli Al-Sha’rawii

Man has deliberately carried Al-Amanah (The Trust), but did he bear it against the will of Allah (SWT)? Did he give himself the right to freely do or not to do, or did Allah offer him that freedom? Definitely man didn’t give himself anything. Allah (SWT) with His mighty power and Divine Will gave man the choice, so He created him free to choose. And if Allah (Jalla Jallaloh) wanted to create him oppressed, it would have been that way. And for this Al-Haqq (SWT) draws our attention to that truth in his words (Jalla Jallaloh)

<<If We will, We could send down to them from heaven a Sign, to which they would bend their necks in humility>> [Ayah 4 from surat Al-Shu’araa]

And Allah (Jalla Jallaloh) says <<Have not then those who believed yet known that had Allah willed, He could have guided all mankind (to the Right)? >> [Ayah 31 from surat Ar-Ra’d]

There hasn’t been anyone in the universe getting anything except through the decree of Allah. The creatures who chose oppression got it by the will of Allah (SWT) and the creatures that are capable of choosing got that choice by the will of Allah (Jalla Jallaloh). So everything in the universe submits to the divine will of Allah, its Creator. The oppressed to obey and the free to disobey both got what they have by the will of Allah (TWT).

None is exempt from Allah’s decree. In this way man has been created free to choose, because Allah (SWT) wanted him to have this freedom and Allah being Al-‘Adl – the Fair – would not oppress man to choose. Allah offered man the right of choice and he accepted it. And that offer was offered to him by the will of Allah.

Here the question to ask is, why man was created free to choose? And here we say that the oppressed creations of Allah (SWT) prove the majestic, oppressing and dominating qualities of Allah; that He is capable of oppressing who ever He likes to do what He wants. But there is also the loving quality of Allah (SWT) in His universe and this quality cannot be proved except from a creation that approach Allah with love, not because they are oppressed to do that. A Creation that would serve Allah out of love and that obey Him because they love to obey Him. And to have this achieved, that creation has to be capable of believing and disbelieving, capable of obeying and disobeying.

A creation that says “O God, I love You and for that I believe in You, not because I am oppressed but out of love, O God I love to obey You and for that I do it. God I will do all what You order me and will get away from what You forbid and God if I am capable of doing any sin, it is the lust of my soul and the evil among men and Al-Jin that makes sins alluring to me. But God Your love in my heart is greater than that of the whole world and Allah, the God of the universe, all what You want me to do I will love to do because I love You Allah and I love to please You.”

That is the real meaning of choice in the universe. Allah (SWT) does not want submitting figures but He wants humble hearts and that is why He wants man to come to Him with a loving heart. And faith – Al-‘Eman – would examine your love for Allah, if the love for Allah in your heart is great, then your faith in His curriculum will be greater. But if His love in your heart is not that strong, then you will be far away from His curriculum.