Part 4: The Freedom of Choice and Its Consequences

Allah S.W.T has appointed mankind as caliphs on earth, inheriting the earth from previous generations. As caliphs, humans are given the freedom to choose, whether to obey Allah S.W.T or to disobey His commands.

Every choice comes with consequences, either rewards or punishments. Allah S.W.T never wrongs His servants, rather it is humans who wrong themselves through the choices they make.

Allah S.W.T states in Surah Al-Kahf 18:29:

وَقُلِ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ ۚ إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمْ سُرَادِقُهَا ۚ وَإِن يَسْتَغِيثُوا۟ يُغَاثُوا۟ بِمَآءٍۢ كَٱلْمُهْلِ يَشْوِى ٱلْوُجُوهَ ۚ بِئْسَ ٱلشَّرَابُ وَسَآءَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا

"And say, 'The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills—let him believe; and whoever wills—let him disbelieve.' Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a Fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like molten brass, which scalds their faces. How terrible the drink, and how evil a resting place!"
(Surah Al-Kahf 18:29)

1. The Freedom to Choose: Between Obedience and Disobedience

As caliphs, humans have the freedom to choose between:

✅ The path of obedience – Following Allah’s commands and adhering to His Shari’ah.
❌ The path of disobedience – Ignoring Shari’ah and following one’s desires.

However, every choice has consequences that will return to the person who makes it. If one chooses obedience, they will receive blessings and mercy from Allah S.W.T. If one chooses disobedience, they will face punishment and the wrath of Allah S.W.T.

Allah S.W.T states in Surah Al-Jathiyah 45:15:

مَنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا فَلِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَنْ أَسَآءَ فَعَلَيْهَا ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ

"Whoever does righteousness—it is for his (own) soul, and whoever does evil (does so) against it. Then to your Lord you will be returned."
(Surah Al-Jathiyah 45:15)

2. The Consequences of Disobedience: Punishment and Declining Faith

Disobedience as a caliph results in two major consequences:

A. The Increasing Wrath of Allah S.W.T

Allah S.W.T increasingly rejects and despises those who persist in disobedience. This is described in Surah Fatir 35:39:

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَـٰٓئِفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ فَمَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُۥ ۖ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ كُفْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَّا مَقْتًۭا ۖ وَلَا يَزِيدُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ كُفْرُهُمْ إِلَّا خَسَارًۭا

"It is He who has made you successors upon the earth. So whoever disbelieves—upon him will be [the consequence of] his disbelief. And the disbelief of the disbelievers does not increase them in the sight of their Lord except in hatred; and the disbelief of the disbelievers does not increase them except in loss."
(Surah Fatir 35:39)

The Prophet Muhammad S.A.W also warned about those who continuously reject Allah’s guidance. He said:

"When Allah loves a servant, He calls Jibril: 'O Jibril! I love so-and-so; so love him.' Then Jibril loves him and announces to the inhabitants of the heavens: 'Allah loves so-and-so; so love him.' Then the inhabitants of the heavens love him, and he is granted acceptance on earth. But when Allah hates a servant, He calls Jibril and says: 'I hate so-and-so; so hate him.' Then Jibril hates him and announces to the inhabitants of the heavens: 'Allah hates so-and-so; so hate him.' Then they hate him, and hatred is placed for him on earth."
(Hadith narrated by Muslim, 2637)

B. The Continuous Decline of Faith

Someone who persists in disobedience will experience a gradual decline in faith, which ultimately leads them to:

✔ Drift further from Allah’s guidance
✔ Become lost and resistant to the truth
✔ Fall into oppression and disbelief

Allah S.W.T states in Surah Al-A’raf 7:179 that those who continue to disobey will become completely misguided:

وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ ۖ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌۭ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌۭ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ ءَاذَانٌۭ لَّا يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْغَـٰفِلُونَ

"And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like livestock; rather, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless."
(Surah Al-A’raf 7:179)

3. The Cycle of Tyranny and Its Consequences

This is the most important lesson we need to understand from this cycle. Throughout human history, disobedience to Allah S.W.T has always occurred in cycles:

1️⃣ A caliph is given the freedom to choose between righteousness and falsehood.
2️⃣ Some choose obedience, while others choose disobedience.
3️⃣ Persistent disobedience leads to Allah’s increasing wrath.
4️⃣ Faith declines, and the people become oppressive.
5️⃣ Allah S.W.T sends His punishment upon those who are disobedient.

Past nations such as the people of Nuh, ‘Ād, and Thamud were given opportunities, yet they continued in disobedience. As a result, they were destroyed with severe punishments.

Allah S.W.T states in Surah Yunus 10:13:

"And We had already destroyed generations before you when they wronged, and their messengers had come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe. Thus do We recompense the criminal people."

Conclusion: Our Choices Determine Our Fate

As caliphs, we have been given the freedom to choose our way of life. However, we must realize that every choice comes with consequences:

✔ If we choose obedience, we will receive mercy, blessings, and guidance from Allah S.W.T.
❌ If we choose disobedience, Allah’s wrath will increase, and our faith will decline.

Allah S.W.T reminds us in Surah Al-Hashr 59:18:

"O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow—and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do."

⚠ The freedom to choose is a test. If we want salvation in the Hereafter, we must choose the path of obedience to Allah S.W.T!