đź“–Sahih al-Bukhari 6217
Narrated `Ali: We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) in a funeral procession, and he started scraping the ground with a small stick and said, “There is none amongst you but has been assigned a place (either) in Paradise and (or) in the Hell-Fire.” The people said (to him), “Should we not depend upon it?” He said: carry on doing (good) deeds, for everybody will find easy such deeds as will lead him to his destined place. He then recited: “As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah..” (92.5)
- This hadith implies that while predestination is a fundamental belief in Islam, it does not negate the concept of free will. Every person has the freedom to choose between good and evil and is responsible for their actions. The Prophet (ﷺ) advised the people to continue doing good deeds, indicating that they have the power to shape their destiny by making the right choices. Thus, according to this hadith, even though everyone has a destined place in the afterlife, they have the freedom to choose their actions and strive towards their destined place in Paradise. The actions and choices a person makes in their life will determine their ultimate destination, whether it is Paradise or Hellfire. Therefore, Muslims are encouraged to make the right choices, do good deeds, and seek Allah’s mercy and forgiveness to ensure a place in Paradise.
