Destiny, Free Will, and Divine Justice: An Analysis of the Concept of Trial and the Metaphysics of Oppression through a Qur'anic Perspective

This study examines the relationship between divine agency, human responsibility, and suffering from a Qurʾān-centered perspective, with particular emphasis on causality (sunnat Allāh), moral accountability, and the ethical implications of attributing injustice to divine will. Departing from deterministic and fatalistic readings of destiny (qadar), the paper argues that the Qurʾānic worldview consistently affirms a cause–effect order in creation, where human actions produce real moral and social consequences. Within this framework, suffering is neither inherently valorized nor arbitrarily imposed, but must be understood through the distinction between moral agency, structural causality, and divine justice. The study critically addresses recurring theological and ethical questions, including the suffering of children due to parental misconduct, sexual violence against minors, and the widespread tendency to shift moral responsibility from human agents to divine decree. By emphasizing the Qurʾānic principles of justice (ʿadl), mercy (raḥma), and wisdom (ḥikma), the paper rejects interpretations that normalize oppression or excuse human wrongdoing under the guise of religious fatalism. Methodologically, the research combines Qurʾānic semantic analysis with insights from Islamic theology, moral philosophy, and contemporary discussions on the problem of evil. As a preprint, this work is intended to contribute to ongoing academic debates in Islamic ethics, philosophy of religion, and Qurʾānic studies, and to invite scholarly engagement prior to journal submission.