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A Functionalist Analysis of Free Will and Its Role… A. Mustapha et al (33
leads to a weakened personality. One of
the commentators on Nahj al-Balagha
writes that the belief in ‘determinism’
leads believers to feel deeply powerless
in the presence of God, as they see their
fate and actions as entirely predestined.
This perception also influences their
interactions with others, as determinism
essentially denies individual agency and
selfhood (Ref: Bahī, 1991: 119).
Reform Movement in Society
One of the reflections that can be
presented for the theory of human free
will and the concept of ‘al-Amr Bayn
al-‘Amrayn’ (lit; a theory between the
two theories: intermediate position) is
the creation of an Islamic society
movement to integrate it into the global
civilization after centuries of decline.
One of the factors of the decline and
fall of Islamic society was the incorrect
interpretation of Qadha and Qadar
(divine decree) and human free will.
To clarify the matter, it is
appropriate to refer to some of the
activities of the Commander of the
Faithful, Imam Ali . In this regard, His
role in reforming society and reviving
human freedom and free will can serve
as a model for us. One of the activities
of Imam Ali in this field was
combating the superstitions and
excesses of Muʿāwiyah and his
followers. Imam Ali fought against
superstitions and the simplistic
interpretation of divine decree and
believed that it should not be accepted
that humans are subject to a
predetermined fate without the
possibility of choice (Riḍā, 1917, Vol.
2, p.p 75, 432, & 509).
As previously mentioned, Imam Ali
opposed these ideas and introduced the
Qadariyyah as Magians and the army
of Satan (Ibn Bābawayh, 2019, p. 380;
Kulaynī, 2008, Vol. 1, p. 155).
After attaining the caliphate,
Muʿāwiyah also used this deterministic
belief and the religious perspective of
these Muslims for political purposes,
using it to justify his actions and
respond to the objections and criticisms
of the people. He instilled and
emphasized that they should be content
with his rule, which he claimed was the
divine decree, and not complain. In
other words, Muʿāwiyah attributed his
rule to the inevitable divine decree and
called his actions the will of God (Ibn
Qutaybah, 1990, Vol. 1, p. 171).
Therefore, the belief in human free
will is very influential in reforming
lifestyle and society.
Principle of Effort and Endeavor
The theory of free will is so intertwined
with the principle of effort and
endeavor that it is sometimes referred
to as the theory of seriousness and
action. ‘Amr Bayn al-Amrayn’ is a
doctrine of work and seriousness, in
which laziness and wasting time are
rejected. Imam Ali , and His
descendants emphasized this important
principle and considered a person’s