The Quran does not teach that humans are forced into disbelief and then punished for it. It teaches that Allah's decree encompasses all things, while human beings still make real choices and are accountable for what they earn.
The Disputed Verses Do Not Teach Arbitrary Compulsion
Critics often cite verses such as Quran 14:4 and Quran 16:93, which say that Allah guides and misguides whom He wills. But the wording and context of these verses do not support the claim that Allah punishes people for choices they were forced to make.
And We did not send any messenger except speaking in the language of his people to state clearly for them, and Allah sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Quran 14:4
And if Allah had willed, He could have made you one community, but He sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And you will surely be questioned about what you used to do.
Quran 16:93
Notice what the verses themselves mention: messengers are sent to make the truth clear, Allah is "Wise", and people will be questioned about what they used to do. So "whom He wills" affirms Allah's absolute sovereignty, not randomness or injustice.
The Quran Explains Who Is Misguided
The Quran does not present divine misguidance as Allah forcing an unwilling seeker of truth into disbelief. Rather, misguidance is repeatedly connected to rejection, corruption, arrogance, and turning away after guidance has been made clear.
He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient.
Quran 2:26
And when they deviated, Allah caused their hearts to deviate. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.
Quran 61:5
This is a key Quranic principle: when people knowingly turn away, Allah may punish them by leaving them to the path they chose and withholding tawfiq from them. This is not injustice. It is a wise and just recompense from the One who knows what is in the hearts.
Guidance Has More Than One Sense
In Quranic usage, hidayah can mean guiding by explanation and calling to the truth, and it can also mean granting inner success and acceptance of the truth. The messengers provide the first type of guidance by conveying the message clearly. Allah alone controls the second type: tawfiq.
And indeed, [O Muhammad], you guide to a straight path.
Quran 42:52
Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.
Quran 28:56
There is no contradiction. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) guides by conveying and explaining the truth, while Allah guides by opening hearts and granting success.
Human Choice Within Allah's Decree
Sunni Islam affirms both truths together: Allah creates and decrees all things, and human beings truly choose and acquire their deeds through the will and ability Allah gave them. Human will is real, but it is not independent of the Creator's will.
So whoever wills may take to his Lord a way. And you do not will except that Allah wills. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.
Quran 76:29-30
Whoever does righteousness - it is for his own soul; and whoever does evil [does so] against it. And your Lord is not ever unjust to the servants.
Quran 41:46
Therefore, the Quran rejects both extremes: humans are not independent creators of their own destiny outside Allah's power, and they are not helpless puppets with no moral responsibility. Allah also states that He does not punish until the message has been conveyed: Quran 17:15.
The Prophet (PBUH) Rejected Fatalism
The companions once asked whether they should rely on what had already been decreed and abandon action. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not tell them to become fatalists. He said:
"Act, for everyone will be facilitated for that for which he was created."
Sahih al-Bukhari 4949
So belief in qadar is not an excuse to abandon obedience or justify sin. It is a reason to act, seek guidance, repent, and ask Allah for firmness.
Conclusion
The objection fails because it assumes a false choice: either Allah is sovereign, or humans are responsible. The Quran affirms both. Allah's guidance is a mercy and favor, His misguidance is never unjust, and every person will be judged only for what he or she truly earned.