Jump to content

Page:Al-Ghazzali - Some Religious and Moral Teachings of Al-Ghazzali (1921).djvu/65

From Wikisource
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
58
FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY

consequents and manifesting itself in the existing orderly succession of events without the least break or irregularity. "Verily", says the Quran. "We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them in sport. We did not create them both but with truth, but most of them do not know".[1]

Surely, there is a set purpose pervading the universe. The uniform succession of events is not at random. There is no such thing as chance. Here again it may be asked: If God is the efficient cause, how will you account for actions attributed to man in the scriptures? Are we to believe that there are two causes for one effect? My answer to this will be that the word cause is vaguely understood. It can be used in two different senses. Just as we say that the death of A was caused by (1) B. the executioner, and (2) C the king's order, Both these statements are correct. Similarly God is the cause of


  1. Quran XLIV 38, 39.