and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know. (2:216)
Al-Allaamah al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullah):
Do not dislike something which Allah has chosen (decreed), for indeed Allah has chosen something which has a tremendous benefit in it, you are just not aware of it!
To any of you that chooses to go forward (by working righteous deeds), or to remain behind (by committing sins), (Al-Muddathir: 37)
This is an evidence that the servant possesses free will and choice; this is a refutation upon the Jabbāriyah, those who say that the servant has no free will or choice rather he is compelled in relation to his actions. They oppose the Mutazilah (1) (Qadariyyah – terms have become synonymous), for the Mutazilah go to extremes in affirming the will of mankind and negating the will of Allāh in contrast to the Jabbāriyah who go to extremes in affirming the will of Allāh and negating free will from mankind; therefore they are in opposite corners.
يَتَقَدَّمَ أَوۡ يَتَأَخَّرَ
Meaning, put forth righteous action or remain behind with disbelief and disobedience. (2) Because righteous actions lead to Paradise and to Allāh, as for actions of disbelief and disobedience then verily they distance a person from Paradise and from Allāh. This is a clear proof that mankind possesses free will and they put forth (righteous actions) and remain behind (in disbelief and sin) as they will. They perform righteous actions as they will and commit sins as they will without being compelled, as the Jabbāriyah claim.
However, when Allāh knows that his servant comes forth towards good, He gives him success. And when Allāh knows his servant turns away from good, he forsakes him, leaves him to himself and to his punishment.
The He (subhānahu wa ta’āla) said,
كُلُّ نَفۡسِۭ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ رَهِينَةٌ (٣٨)
Every person is a pledge for what he has earned, (38)
Whoever puts forth (good) or remains (in disbelief and sin), all of them will have their deeds presented to them on Yawm al-Qiyāmah.
(1) http://www.aqidah.com/creed/articles/opvus-ibn-battah-al-ukbaree-d-387h-on-what-is-obligatory-to-believe-in-regarding-al-qadaa-wal-qadar.cfm
(2) As is recorded from Ibn ʿAbbās and Qatādah as reported in Tafsīr at-Tabari
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“Many verses have come in the Qur’aan about Tawheed ar Ruboobiyyah (Singling out Allaah with His Actions) and knowing about Al Khaaliq (The Creator) and Ar Raaziq (The Provider)
The One who gives life and death, the One who gives and withholds, who debases and raises, He protects all while against him there is no protector.
Because the people, in this life, they believe or they may believe – Shaytaan (Satan) may come to them and cause them to believe – that everything is in the hands of mankind. No!
(Rather) the One in whose Hands is everything is Allaah! Alone! And Mankind are (merely) a means (for things to take place).
They may do (something) or they may not do (something). And because of this, if you see in the Qur’aan the mention of Allaah – The Glorified and Exalted – in an Ayah (verse) then repeat it.
For indeed it cures the stains of the Dunya (Worldly Life) in the heart (Meaning: The stains caused by the Dunya).”
