The debates of fate and free will: The perspective of Necati Öner, Hüseyin Atay and W. Montgomery Watt

Destiny and freedom have always been the topic of discussion. Due to its presence in a wide range, it has shown itself in many areas. In this respect, a framework has been formed by considering the situation of human beings in the presence of Allah. Especially, answers were sought within the framework of questions such as how free will and destiny shape human will, the state of human will within scope of the will of Allah, and whether the knowledge of Allah influences the determination of human actions. Although the issue of destiny and freedom is a popular topic in classical Kalam and philosophy literature, this study is important for contemporary literature in terms of considering this relationship within the context of Necati Öner, Hüseyin Atay and W. Montgomery Watt. As for the subject, the thought of Kalam has gained intensity. It was especially felt in Montgomery Watts and Hüseyin Atay. Necati Öner, on the other hand, made himself felt with his philosophical approaches. In this study, it is aimed to determine whether the ideas, claimed by philosophers within the same topic, form a common point.