Islam Rediscovered
19. The Islamic Concept of History
~ 329 ~
The truth is that the right principle by which to
interpret human history is neither that of
predeterminism nor of freedom. According to
Islam, there is only one correct principle to interpret
human history and that is the principle of test. Man
has been placed in the present world for the
purpose of being tested. On the outcome of this test
will depend the eternal future of all mankind.
Favourable circumstances were a sine qua non for
this test in the world. Predeterminism had to a
certain extent to be a feature of these circumstances
as a guarantee against any obstacle coming in the
way of carrying out man’s trial. On the other hand,
the element of freedom was also essential in order
that the intentions and actions of each individual
could be properly judged. For man can be granted
the credit for a good deed only on the condition
that, despite having the opportunity to indulge in
bad deeds, he chooses of his own free will to act
virtuously.
If in this world everything had been totally
predetermined, the element of trial would have
been absent. However the granting of freedom did
