Do people have to believe in Allah?

- Are people responsible for believing in Allah?
- Does the fact that people are responsible for believing in Allah mean “believing in Allah is obligatory”?
- It is obligatory to do what is fard. If the fact that people are responsible for believing in Allah means that believing in Allah is obligatory. However, man has the right to choose whether to believe in Allah or not, and this right has been given to us by Allah Himself.
- In short, believing in Allah is fard means believing in Allah is obligatory. However, we know that people do not have to believe in Allah. People are free to believe in Allah or not.
- There is a contradiction; do you understand it?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The real purpose of the creation of the universe is to know and believe in Allah. People cannot have a greater responsibility than that. It is definitely a necessity for a person responsible for believing in Allah to believe in Him.

This responsibility and obligation is an indication that believing in Allah is fard (fard-al-ayn) for people.

It does not mean that servants are obliged to do it in this world because of what Allah has made obligatory. We learn this from the following verse above: “Let there be no compulsion in religion...” (al-Baqara, 2/256).

In other words, orders and prohibitions express an obligation on the basis of law. However, in practice, it does not imply a necessity on the basis of individuals. As a current example, wearing a MASK against the coronavirus is currently a legal requirement. However, there is no such thing actually forcing people. Whoever wishes wears it, whoever wishes does not.

According to the verse “... Let him who will believe, and let him who will, reject (it)...” (al-Kahf, 18/29), people have an obligation in terms of Sharia laws, but there is no actual obligation. Those who do not wear a mask will be fined or imprisoned, and those who do not believe will go to Hell.

So, people are free to commit crimes. However, there is a penalty for this crime. In that case, man has freedom and obligation.

Questions on Islam