Predestination and human freedom
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what a belief in predestination is and different perspectives on how this can relate to the idea of human freedom in Islam.
Key learning points
- Muslims beileve that Allah is all powerful and all knowing
- Most Muslims believe that Allah has predestined what will happen.
- Some Muslims view total predestination as in conflict with the idea of free will.
- There are different solutions to the issue of predestination and free will in Islam.
Keywords
Decree - a command or order that must be followed
Free will - being able to choose between different actions
Omnipotent - Allah is all powerful
Omniscient - Allah is all knowing
Predestination - Allah has pre-decided everything that happens
Common misconception
That Sunni Muslims believe we have no free will due to predestination, or that Shi'a Muslims believe there is no predestination due to free will.
Most Muslims take a middle ground between them when considering the relationship between free will and predestination in Islam.
Teacher tip
Students can consider the development of Islamic thought as scholars considered the relationship between predestination and free will in the past through reseaching the positions of the Asharite and Mutazilite schools of thought.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the words with the correct definitions.
beliefs about life after death in Islam
belief in Allah’s oneness and unity
belief in prophets as Allah’s messengers
Q2.Select the statement that is correct.
Q3.The angel who will sound the trumpet announcing the Last Day is ...
Q4.The Arabic word for angels is ...
Q5.On the Last Day, all people will gather on Mount to be judged.
Q6.Which of the following is a key belief about resurrection in Islam?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the Islamic belief in predestination (al-Qadr)?
Q2.Which name of Allah means ‘the all-knowing’?
Q3.How do many Muslims reconcile belief in predestination with human freedom?
Q4.The belief that Allah has already decided all that will happen is called ...
Q5.The idea that humans can choose between different actions is known as ...
Q6.A Muslim who believes Allah is all-powerful would refer to Him as Al- ...
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: Predestination and human freedom, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: Predestination and human freedom, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Islam: beliefs unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.