Dr. Zakir Naik clarifies concept of 'free will' to actor Yashma Gill

Gill revealed journey back to faith after period of atheism influenced by Dr. Naik's speeches during Karachi event

In an event held at the Governor House in Sarurday, Pakistani actress Yasmina Gil posed a significant question to renowned Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik.

The gathering took place on October 5, as part of Dr. Naik's ongoing tour of Pakistan, drawing a large audience eager to engage with the scholar.

Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori warmly welcomed Dr. Naik and his son, with the event commencing with the national anthem followed by a recitation from the Quran. Dr. Naik delivered a lecture on the theme, "What is the Purpose of Our Lives?" before initiating a question-and-answer session with attendees.

The first question came from Yasmina Gil, who shared her personal journey of returning to faith, influenced by Dr. Naik's speeches, after experiencing a period of atheism.

She inquired about the concept of predestination, asking, "If Allah has already written a person's destiny, what free will do we have? Who is responsible for our choices between right and wrong when we believe that our fate is already determined?"

Responding to her inquiry, Dr. Naik acknowledged that this question often arises in the minds of many Muslims. He explained that while some are courageous enough to ask, others may hesitate due to fears of religious repercussions.

Dr. Naik elaborated that while Allah possesses knowledge of the unseen and knows the actions individuals will take, humans exercise their free will in making choices. "It is not that humans do what Allah has decreed, but rather that Allah writes what humans will choose to do," he stated, emphasizing God's omniscience regarding the decisions individuals will make at various points in their lives.

Using an analogy, Dr. Naik described a person standing at a crossroads with four paths. He explained that while Allah has knowledge of which path the individual will ultimately choose, it is the individual who selects their route based on their own thoughts and decisions.