Qadāʾ and qadar in the thought of Murtaza Mutahharî

One reflection of the relationship between God and human beings is the concept of qadāʾ (divine decree) and qadar (destiny). This is because human actions have aspects that pertain both to God and to the individual. It is known that, in the period following the death of the Prophet, there were disagreements over these two concepts. Different interpretations have been offered by members of the Islamic faith regarding this matter. Likewise, it is known that this issue also sparked debate in the early period of the Shia school of thought.Murtaza Mutahharî, one of the prominent contemporary Shia scholars, addressed this topic from a philosophical perspective. He believed that the influence of materialist thought in his society had a negative effect on the youth, and in order to counter this, he sought to explain many religious and philosophical issues to young people. The issue of qadāʾ and qadar was among these topics. He discussed the matter by also referencing the views of the Ash'arite and Mu'tazilite schools. It appears that he accepted the concept of destiny in the sense of divine determination, while also upholding the belief in human free will. The statement, "There is neither absolute compulsion nor complete freedom; there is a state between the two," expresses this view. His emphasis on the indispensable concepts of justice, reason, and will serves to substantiate this idea. He approaches the issue generally within the framework of the laws of causality. Within this framework, he believes in the concept of a free human being. He explains the notions of immutable (ḥatmī) and non-immutable (ghayr ḥatmī) destiny through the Shia concept of badāʾ (apparent change in divine will). As a renowned scholar of his time, Mutahharî's approach to this subject is highly significant for understanding the Shia perspective on destiny. In this regard, identifying the commonalities and differences between Shia and other Islamic schools of thought is expected to enrich the discipline of ʿilm al-kalām (Islamic theology).