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A Functionalist Analysis of Free Will and Its Role… A. Mustapha et al (29
Some scholars have provided answers to
resolve this conflict. The late Majlisī has an
interesting explanation. In summary, he
suggests that these actions and behaviors
might be specific to Ahl al-Bayt since they
had prior knowledge that they would not be
harmed in such incidents. Eventually, Imam
Ali fled from one wall but not from another
because He knew the first would collapse
and the second would not. Another
explanation is that the message of these
narrations might negate excessive avoidance
of calamities and abandoning obligations due
to imaginary or potential harm.
This explanation seems good, but
the first possibility is debatable. As
previously mentioned, it might be
argued that in this ordinary situation,
what need is there to use knowledge of
the unseen? Does fleeing from a
collapsing wall not require the use of
knowledge of the unseen? In
explaining Imam Hussain’s movement
towards Kufa, it is usually mentioned
that He did not use knowledge of the
unseen in this matter but acted
according to his duty to fight
corruption and oppression.
Hence, if the use of knowledge of
the unseen is not mentioned here, it
would not apply to the case of the
collapsing wall either, and thus not
fleeing from such a wall would be an
example of ‘throwing oneself into
destruction,’ which is against God’s
command and not befitting the status of
an infallible Imam . However, the
second possibility is valid because one
of the teachings of Islam is Jihad and
sacrifice, and to create and strengthen
such a motive, steps need to be taken,
one of which seems to be positive
thinking and reducing excessive worry.
Another point that can be included is
that perhaps the characteristics of the
addressee were also influential in these
narrations, as the addressees of these
narrations might have been people who
had such a trait i.e., being overly
fearful to an extreme degree, and the
Imam wanted to correct them with this
statement and behavior. In summary, a
person can escape and find solutions
from divine decree, but one cannot
escape from divine judgment.
Analysis of the Functions of Human
Free Will in Lifestyle
In previous discussions, several of the
following questions were raised:
• What is the view of the Ahl al-Bayt
on free will?
• How does this theory relate to the
concept of free will proposed by
some scholars?
• What are the criteria and
components of the theory of the
‘Middle Path’?
• What role does this theory play in
human lifestyle?
In this section, we seek to answer
this last question.
Anthropological issues, in addition
to their direct impact on Islamic
knowledge, also reflect on other
matters, highlighting the importance