This Is Islam Uncovered

Does the Qur’an Contradict Itself on Human Free Will?

One of the most contentious theological debates in Islam is the question of human free will vs. divine predestination. The Qur’an claims to be consistent, internally coherent, and free from contradiction (Q 4:82). But when it comes to the issue of free will, the text presents conflicting messages that suggest both full divine control and full human responsibility—an irreconcilable paradox.

Verses Affirming Human Free Will

The Qur’an often speaks as if humans are responsible for their own actions:

Qur’an 18:29 – "And say, ‘The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills – let him believe; and whoever wills – let him disbelieve.’”

Qur’an 91:7-10 – "And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it and inspired it with its wickedness and righteousness – he has succeeded who purifies it, and he has failed who instills it [with corruption].”

Qur’an 39:41 – "Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book for the people in truth. So whoever is guided – it is for [the benefit of] his soul; and whoever goes astray only goes astray to its detriment.”

These verses clearly frame belief and guidance as human choices, implying responsibility and moral agency.

Verses Denying Human Free Will

Yet, other verses contradict this entirely, placing the control in Allah’s hands alone:

Qur’an 14:4 – "Allah sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills.”

Qur’an 16:93 – "And if Allah had willed, He could have made you [of] one religion, but He misguides whom He wills and guides whom He wills.”

Qur’an 6:125 – "Whomever Allah wills to guide – He opens his heart to Islam; and whomever He wills to misguide – He makes his chest tight and constricted.”

These passages declare that guidance and misguidance are acts of divine will, not individual choice.

Tafsir Confirms Divine Determinism

Classical exegetes confirm the deterministic reading:

🟠 Ibn Kathir on Q 14:4:

"He guides whom He wills and misguides whom He wills, and He is not questioned about what He does.”

🟡 Al-Tabari on Q 6:125:

"The one whom Allah wants to misguide, He makes the truth hateful to his heart.”

These interpretations confirm that guidance is divinely programmed, not earned or chosen.

The Logical Contradiction

If humans are free to choose, then God cannot be the one determining their belief or disbelief.
If God determines belief or disbelief, then holding humans morally accountable becomes incoherent.

You cannot be both entirely responsible for your actions and entirely dependent on God's will for every thought and deed.

This contradiction is not peripheral—it strikes at the heart of Islamic ethics, justice, and soteriology (doctrine of salvation).

Ash'ari Theology Tries (and Fails) to Reconcile It

Sunni orthodoxy, particularly the Ash‘ari school, tries to resolve this with the doctrine of kasb (acquisition). It argues:

Allah creates all actions.
Humans "acquire" the actions by their intention.

But this is a semantic evasion, not a resolution. If God creates both the act and the intent, then human freedom is still illusory.

Al-Ghazali: “There is no act of the servant except that it is created by God.”

So again: why reward or punish people for actions God caused?

Mu’tazilite Alternative: Free Will at a Cost

The Mu‘tazilites, a rationalist school in early Islam, rejected divine determinism and insisted on true human free will.

They argued that justice requires moral responsibility.
They rejected the idea that Allah would create disbelief and then punish for it.

However, they were deemed heretical and sidelined by the mainstream.

Conclusion: A Theological Paradox the Qur’an Cannot Resolve

The Qur’an declares itself free of contradiction (Q 4:82), but on the issue of free will vs. divine control, it presents mutually exclusive doctrines:

Humans choose their path — and are responsible.
Allah determines their path — and holds them accountable anyway.

This contradiction undermines the Qur’an’s claim to consistency, exposes the injustice of its moral system, and casts serious doubt on its divine authorship. A just God cannot both cause disbelief and then punish people for disbelieving.