Free Will in Islam

The free will is a tool given to humanity to adopt their respective ways that appeal to them. The divine guidance and signs every where around us help us in chosing wisely. The wordly punishments for the aggressors are present in order to establish an environment which would guarranty the security and well being of individuals irrespective of their race, color & religion. The punishment in this world is divinely prescribed in order to get a person off the hook in the hereafter for a given crime provided the person at the same time also asks forgiveness from God for that sin. Muslims in the time of prophet presented themselves for such punishments so that they won't have any burden of their major sins on the day of judgement.

The oppression is considered worse than killing in Quran and hence those who oppress weak and helpless are to be fought against and be brought to justice. The free will to humanity is given as a criteria for the salvation in the hereafter by having the ability to chose willingly the right path to the Creator. Islam believes that every individual has the right to choose his own path and live in peace and prosperity. Muslims don't kill people who simply turn away from Islam but rather only those who also turn out to be the enemy spies and threaten the Islamic state. Prophet is reported to have left alone a person who turned apostate since he was not a threat to the Islamic state. Some floating hadeeths that people refer to about killing a person for turning apostate are considered week by majority among muslims. Quran clearly states this principal in its various verses and since Quran is the final and uncorrupted authority for us muslims, there is no way a person could be punished for such an act.

Let there be no compulsion in religion: (Chapter 2 Al-Baqra:256)

But if they turn away, thy duty is only to preach the clear Message. (Chapter 16 An-Nahl:82)