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How can one reconcile human responsibility for one's actions, in light of the materialistic philosophy that views actions as stemming from non-elective factors such as heredity, environment, and upbringing, with the Islamic faith which does not accept determinism? And does the answer lie in an unseen elective capacity (such as the soul) that transcends material causes?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Every event in the universe occurs by Allah’s will and decree. He punishes His servants for their sins out of His justice, and He rewards them for their good deeds out of His grace and generosity. A person’s actions are the execution of universal, predestined commands. Nevertheless, a person has been given intellect and senses to distinguish between what is beneficial and what is harmful, and the power to implement what they desire, thus they have free will. As for the soul, it is a matter known only to Allah, and it is impermissible to delve into unseen matters. The questioner is advised to stay away from materialistic philosophies and those who work with them, as they might affect their religion.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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