Dr. A. K. Merchant*.
Against the current global backdrop of uncertainty, world leaders—both secular and religious—seem perplexed by the operation of cosmic will and the destiny of human life on Earth. Followers of the Bahá’i Faith hold that human beings possess free will in moral and spiritual matters, while certain aspects of existence are governed by divine or cosmic will.
According to the Bahá’i Writings, individuals have the inherent ability to make moral choices. Acts of justice, kindness, and compassion, or their opposites—cruelty and injustice—are within human control and responsibility. Spiritual growth depends on the conscious choices an individual makes throughout life. Although divine guidance is continually available, each person must freely decide whether to follow it. Unlike the rest of creation, which operates strictly under the laws of nature, humans have the privilege and responsibility of moral choice.
The duality of divine will and human volition allows for both personal accountability and spiritual development, while also acknowledging elements of life beyond human control. Challenges such as illness, death, and natural disasters are part of divine destiny. While these are not caused by human will, they offer opportunities for inner growth and refinement of character.
The Bahá’i teachings emphasize that although God possesses complete foreknowledge, this divine awareness does not interfere with human choice. Free will functions within a framework of divine wisdom. Bahá’u’lláh, Founder of the Bahá’i Faith, described nature as “the embodiment of God’s Will and its expression in the contingent world.” This view aligns with the dharmic understanding that creation operates through the agency of nature—both miraculous and continuous.
From this perspective, studying nature is a means of understanding divine will. Natural phenomena, even catastrophic events, are not random. Every occurrence follows laws of divine order, revealing that “God does not play dice.” The interplay between deterministic and probabilistic forces sustains the universe’s structure and life’s evolution.
The physicist John von Neumann’s interpretation of quantum mechanics helps explain how randomness and determinism coexist. While science identifies limits to human knowledge, faith traditions see divine purpose operating even in apparent randomness. Bahá’u’lláh wrote: “Everything that is hath come to be through His irresistible decree.” Thus, nature and consciousness both express facets of divine will.
Similar concepts exist across the world’s religions. In Hinduism, free will and destiny coexist through karma—actions shape destiny while dharma guides moral duty. In Buddhism, mindfulness and ethical practice cultivate freedom from conditioned responses. Judaism regards free will as central to moral responsibility, even while acknowledging divine sovereignty. Christianity views free will and predestination as mysteriously coexisting in God’s plan, while Islam teaches that though Allah knows and wills all, humans are accountable for their actions.
In conclusion, the Bahá’i perspective envisions humanity moving toward unity under divine will. As people awaken to the truth that “the earth is but one country, and humankind its citizens,” the world will undergo both trials and transformations. Calamities will cleanse the earth of corruption, paving the way for a new age of spiritual integration and unity. The Bahá’i Writings describe this as the unfolding of God’s plan: though the present may seem dark, the future is destined to be radiant—a Golden Age of a united and spiritually awakened humanity.
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*The author is a social worker, independent researcher, and member of the Bahá’i Community of India. Views expressed are personal.
