The affairs of our life consist of two parts: affairs within our choice, and affairs beyond our choice. In…

The affairs of our life consist of two parts: affairs within our choice, and affairs beyond our choice. In the science of aqidah, human choice is called a part of the universal choice. Universal choice — the whole of choosing belongs to God; a small part of this choice has also been given to man, and it is called partial choice (juz'i ikhtiyar). This meaning is also expressed by the word istita'ah (capacity). What time a person goes to sleep and wakes up; whether he says good words or chooses bad ones; whether he works honestly or eats and drinks what is unlawful; whether he worships or turns away from worship — all these are matters within partial choice, or within capacity. For reason confirms that in these matters a person chooses one of two things: it is possible to go to sleep as early as ten in the evening; it is also possible to scroll through the phone, look at everything, pass midnight and not be able to sleep; reading a book or wandering about on youtube — which of these to do is in everyone's own hands. But being born a man or a woman; whose child one is; in which land and in which age one comes into the world; whether one's provision is ample or scant; the term of one's life and the like are beyond a person's choice. It is desirable that a person not grieve over matters beyond his choice. For there is no way at all to change them. But let him grieve over the deeds he can do and that are within his means. Let him take responsibility for the sins he committed by submitting to his ego and repent; let him blame himself for falling into various reproaches through laziness, and once he has done these things, let him strive not to repeat his past mistakes. That is, let him not release his ego from its chain; let him go to bed early and wake up early; let him work; let him eat and drink what is lawful; let him not oppress; let him not walk in what is unlawful, and so on. Sometimes people are abandoned by those close to them. This happens for two reasons. The first: death separates friends. The second happens by the wish of the one who leaves. A person can never own the wishes of others; this is not within his choice; therefore, whatever the reason, one should not grieve over those who have left. For it was not in your hands. Leave people to their own choices. Let everyone live their own life; if you try to be master over others, even if you do it with good intentions and for that other person's benefit, you will meet with hatred. The one who strives according to his capacity succeeds. God is a just Being. He has given everyone such capacity that whoever uses all of it can surely achieve a result with which his heart, his ego and his mind are content. To be able to understand this, one only needs the eye of wisdom. And the eye is veiled either by ignorance or by heedlessness. Let us say at the end of our words: the partial choice in man is also within God's choice. The servant is incapable of understanding how this is and what its secret is; indeed, it is natural for him to be incapable, because he is a servant, and He is God. Understanding all of God's works is not the servant's business. The servant's business consists of obedience and submission.

Akrom MALIK