predestination

• What do most Sunni Muslims believe about Allah's choices?

  Allah has made it impossible to choose otherwise
• What is Al-Qadr in Islam?

  It is the belief in predestination
• How do most Muslims view human choice in relation to Allah's will?

  Humans cannot choose without Allah's choice
• Why do some Muslims find comfort in the idea of predestination?

  It reassures them that bad events are part of God's plan
• What does the term Insha’Allah mean?

  If Allah wills
• What do most Shi'a Muslims believe about free will?

  People have free will in their lives
• How do Shi'a Muslims view God's knowledge of the future?

  God knows but does not decide what happens
• What does the Qur’an 13:11 state about God's intervention?

  God does not change conditions unless people do
• Why do some Shi'a Muslims believe the Day of Judgement contradicts Al-Qadr?

  Judgement implies free will in actions
• What are the leadership differences between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims?

  • Shi'a Muslims respect an imam's leadership
  • Imams are seen as sinless and divinely chosen
  • Sunni Muslims do not have a birthright to leadership
  • Sunni leadership is based on community responsibility
• What is the role of an imam in Shi'a Islam?

  Imam is a sinless leader and intermediary
• What does the doctrine of ‘nass’ teach in Shi'a Islam?

  Every imam is chosen by the previous imam
• How is the term imam used in Sunni Islam?

  Refers to a leader providing spiritual care
• What is a key difference in leadership beliefs between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims?

  Shi'a leadership is hereditary, Sunni is not