Is Man Free or Compelled? The Purpose of Man’s Creation

Question

(1) Zayd holds the belief: when I had not yet been born into the world, before my birth I was neither an angel, nor a jinn, nor any animal, nor a stone — in short, I was nothing at all; that is, I had no existence whatsoever. And since I was sheer nothing, I had no concern with being a Muslim, nor with being a kafir, nor any concern with Hell or with Paradise.

Answer

(1) Zayd is of himself without knowledge; he does not know what the benefit of coming into the world is. The purpose of his life is known to the One who created him — and He has also made that purpose known. Had Zayd been born by his own choice, he would himself have set the purpose; since that is not so, he has no right at all to set it himself.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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