“Guide Us” and Free Will

Qur’an 1:6 · Al-Fātiḥah · With other exegetes

ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ

Guide us to the straight path (1:6)

The question

Does the prayer Guide us to the straight path refute those who hold that human beings act by their own will, as al-Qurṭubī says it refutes the Imāmites?

Views answered: al-Qurṭubī

Jawādī Āmulī’s argument

Al-Qurṭubī holds that the verse refutes the Qadarites, the Muʿtazilites and the Imāmites, since they believe people create their own acts and do not need God for them, whereas here they ask Him for guidance. Āyatullāh Jawādī Āmulī answers that this might be said of the Muʿtazilite doctrine of delegation (tafwīḍ), but not of the Twelver Imāmites, who believe in free will and in the middle position between Ashʿarī compulsion and Muʿtazilite delegation. To ascribe it to them is a slander.

Views compared

Al-Qurṭubī’s view is given as al-Tasnim reports it. The point opens al-Tasnim at that place.

Does “Guide us” refute free will? Read →

al-Qurṭubī

The verse refutes the Qadarites, the Muʿtazilites and the Imāmites, who hold that human will suffices for their acts and that they create their own acts without need of the Lord; for here people ask God for guidance.

Jawādī Āmulī

That may be said of the Muʿtazilite doctrine of delegation (tafwīḍ), but not at all of the Twelver Imāmites, who hold the middle position between Ashʿarī compulsion (jabr) and Muʿtazilite delegation. Ascribing it to them is nothing but a slander.

Reading guide

Each step opens al-Tasnim at that point.

1. Al-Qurṭubī’s claim
2. The answer: delegation, but not the Imāmites

The whole commentary on 1:6 →