Determinism and free will in Mawlana Jalal al-Din Muhammad Balkhi

The issue of determination and free will being a complicated philosophical and theological problem has been dealt by scholars of various religious backgrounds throughout the each accorging to his own school of thought. Ash’arites believe that man is determined and things are left to God. On the contrary, Mu’tazilites believe in human free will assuming that man is responsible for his activities. Jalal al-Din Muhammad Balkhi known as Mawlana (Rumi) includes in his Mathanawi poems which according to some imply determinism whereas according to others free will. Taking all other poems Mawlana has composed on determinism and free will into account, the author studies Mawlana’s opinion in this regard.