Dajjaal Has a Will and Choice
2-9-2019 | IslamWeb
Question:
Assalamu Alaikum,I have a doubt regarding Dajjal. Since Allah had pre-determined to make Dajjal bad person without any test, can you please explain how we could understand justice of Allah in this matter. Can you please clarify.Thanks
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The perception on which this question is based is wrong. Denying that the Dajjaal has no choice is not true. Judging that his fate has already been determined, if it is in the sense of the ideology of compulsion [that he is forced to do his actions and that he has no choice], then this is even more wrong. What is true is that the Dajjaal is a man from the people of Adam, and he is like them in terms of choice and (Islamic) obligations, but he is distinguished from them by other things, such as the ability to do some miracles.
As regards the news about his disbelief, his tyranny, and him claiming divinity, then the matter in this regard is like the revelation about the unseen, which is part of the eternal knowledge of Allah. There is no compulsion for the Mukallaf [a person competent for religious assignment; i.e., reached puberty and is sane] to do something that is not of his choice; for example: the Quran informed us about the disbelief of Abu Lahab and him deserving Hellfire; at the same time, he is commanded to believe, but he has disbelieved with his own choice and will by which he deserves to be punished.
In general, it is not necessary from the eternal knowledge of Allah that the Servant is forced [to do his actions].
Shaykh Ash-Shankeeti said in Daf’ Eehaam al-Idhtiraab:
“If we assume that a Jibri [a person who believes that we are forced to do our actions and we have no choice] debates with a Sunni [a person who follows the Sunnah and the correct methodology], and the Jibri said: “My evidence to my Lord is to say: I have no choice in doing my actions; the Will of Allah has to be implemented on me according to the eternal knowledge [of Allah]. I am forced [to do my actions], so how is it that He would punish me for something I have no choice to do.” The Sunni will say to him: “All the reasons that Allah has given to those who were guided, were given to you: He gave you the sense of hearing by which you hear; (the sense of) sight by which you see; and a mind by which you reason. He sent you a Messenger, and He gave you a choice and an ability, and then there is nothing left after this except being enabled (to do actions), (a matter) which is His own property; if He gives it, then this is out of His Grace, and if He prevents it, then it is out of His Justice, as Allah has pointed out to this saying (what means): {Say, “With Allah is the far-reaching argument. If He had willed, He would have guided you all.”} [Quran 6:149]” [End of quote]
For more benefit, please refer to Fatawa 27274.
Allah knows best.