achievement of this environment, however, still eludes humanity. It
is extremely difficult, some would say almost impossible, to
maintain proper balance between individual freedom and social
stability. For centuries man has been trying to devise a social system
which might reconcile the two. He has been experimenting with
various forms of government and diverse types of social
organisation. The search is still on, but we can discern the broad
outlines of a stable and progressive society composed of really free
members. We can also discern the guiding and supporting hand of
Divine Guidance through the ages in this quest.
In the physical world, the Divine Will operates as a constraining
and controlling force. The Qur'anic term "khalq" refers to this
aspect of the Will's working. In the world of autonomous egos, on
the other hand, it performs the function of guidance. It leaves them
free to decide what is best for them, but they are not left to grope in
darkness with equal chances of turning to the right or the wrong
direction. An indication of the direction in which they ought to
proceed is provided to them. They are, however, free to accept or
reject the guidance as they like. The Qur'an makes this point clear:
The truth has come from Allah. Then whosoever will, let him accept it,
and, whosoever will, let him reject (18:29).
However, man, though free, is subject to the Law of Requital.
Every action recoils on the doer. Right action has consequences
which are beneficial to man and enrich and strengthen his self.
Wrong actions invariably weaken and debase him. Right actions
accelerate his progress towards the goal of self-fulfilment, whereas
wrong actions drag him down to a lower plane. So, man is free to act
in a wrong way but he cannot escape the penalty of wrongdoing. If a
man chooses wrong he must meet the consequences thereof. The
Law is relentless in its working like other Laws of God, and man
cannot evade the results of his own actions. As the Qur'an puts it:
Verily, the grip of thy Rabb is severe (85:12).
At every moment in his life, man faces a number of possibilities,
every one of which is "taqdeer" in the terminology of the Qur'an,
His freedom is limited only to the number of possibilities open to
him. He is free to choose any one of them but he cannot go out of
their range. He cannot, himself, enlarge the range of possibilities.
He enjoys freedom within the prescribed range but not outside it.
Islam: A Challenge to Religion 145