Hadith on predestination a critical evaluation and reinterpretation
Most of the Muslim scholars and majority of Muslim masses stand confused over the question of predestination of human life and its end-result. The most predominant view of prefixed human destiny is that man is bound to follow the prewritten details of his life; and he does not actually have freed...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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London Academy of Iranian Studies
2014
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| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/48453/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/48453/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/48453/4/48453.pdf |
| Summary: | Most of the Muslim scholars and majority of Muslim masses stand confused
over the question of predestination of human life and its end-result. The most
predominant view of prefixed human destiny is that man is bound to follow the
prewritten details of his life; and he does not actually have freedom to think,
choose, and act on his own accord. Such fatalistic idea of life is consequent
upon some traditions recorded in the name of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)
by almost all the famous Hadith scholars, including al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Apparently these Hadiths seek to convey a message that the life-span,
sustenance, deeds, the position of being rewarded or condemned in the life
hereafter are prefixed even before man’s birth. Hadith commentators have tried
to remove the confusion over the concept of predestination. Yet, the confusion
remains in place. It seems the Hadith commentators who believe in the sanctity
of the Hadith words have ultimately further endorsed the notion of fatalism.
Possibly, if the Hadith wording is thoroughly investigated and tested against
some highly reliable sources, the Qur’an, the well-known teachings of the
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), and the sound reasoning, the current confusion
may be removed. This paper represents a humble attempt to make authentic
enquiry into the reliability of the main traditions on predestination, on the one
hand, and reinterpret them so as to bring a harmony between the idea of
examination of man on the earth and that of predestination. The purpose of this
paper is not to discredit the works of Hadith scholars but to rectify the probable
faults in their recording of Hadith.
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