Question

Asalaamu alaikum wrwbr,
As Muslims do we believe in karma?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Inspirer of Truth.

Muslims do not believe in Karma.

Fundamentally, Karma is a Dharmic philosophy of Divine Justice and works in tandem with Dharmic beliefs of reincarnation. The adherents of these religions believe that person who does good would reap the benefit of that good, either in this current cycle of life or a new re-birth. Similarly, a perpetrator of injustice and misdeeds would reap evil in this current cycle of life or their next cycle.

These beliefs are in stark contrast to the Islamic system of Divine Justice. A fundamental aspect of our faith is that we will be accountable for our good and bad actions and will be assigned an abode in the hereafter. Allah describes Himself in the Quran as:

The One Who created death and life in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, All-Forgiving (Q. 67:2)

Allah will reward the person who performs good deeds. Similarly, the wrongdoers will be questioned about their misdeeds. Concerning this, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

Whoever has oppressed another person concerning his reputation or anything else, he should beg him to forgive him before the Day of Resurrection when there will be no money (to compensate for wrong deeds), but if he has good deeds, those good deeds will be taken from him according to his oppression which he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the oppressed person will be loaded on him. (Bukhari, Hadith number 2449).

Allah did not intend to create this earth as a perfect abode. In His infinite mercy and justice, He created life and death as a test to see who will exceed one another in good deeds. While a person may not receive justice in this world, one will receive justice in the court of Allah – the Almighty. We believe that Allah is Omniscient and the Just. Nothing escapes His knowledge, and a person will be accountable for their actions on the Day of Judgement.

Can a person be punished for their bad deeds on this earth? Indeed. Can a person be rewarded for their good deeds on this earth? Certainly, however, this does not take place by necessity. There is no necessary causal link between good actions and rewards in this world. Similarly, there is no causal link between evil actions and punishment in this world by necessity.

In conclusion, Muslims do not believe in Karma. Instead, we believe that our system of Divine Justice is complete as one will be accountable for their actions in the Court of Almighty Allah.

And Allah knows best.

Answered by:
Maulana Ikramul Hoque Miah

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel