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The Mercy of Allah · Theme
Fate and Free Will
How The Mercy of Allah develops Fate and Free Will.
The narrative questions the interplay between predestined divine will and human agency in shaping one's destiny.
Where it surfaces
- I: Al-Rafsat, or 'The Kick'
Mahmoud reflects on the role of fate ('Mektub') and personal appetite in determining one's fortune.
- IX: Al-Jamal Wa’l-Nakhl, or “Camels and Dates”
Mahmoud tells his nephews to determine their fate and thirst for money, yet also states that the acquirement of great sums is in the Hand of God.
- X: Al-Hisān, or “The Horse”
Mahmoud's decision to seize the horse and flee illustrates his exercise of free will within a narrative of divine guidance.