Lessons from Hadith: Why “It’s My Will” Is Not Enough | Responsibility, Justice & Accountability
“It’s My Will” Is It Really That Simple?
We often do something, and when someone asks us about it, we simply say, “It’s my will,” and move on just to avoid explaining ourselves.
But is it really such a simple statement?
If we deeply reflect on it, another reality begins to appear before us: Can a person always claim, “It’s my will,” when their decision affects someone else?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you will be questioned about his flock.”
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 893; Sahih Muslim 1829.
Read this hadith carefully.
When a person has authority or responsibility over another person and has to make a decision concerning them, that authority does not simply give them the right to say, “It’s my will.” Rather, it places a responsibility upon them to act with justice, wisdom, and accountability.
A person cannot simply make a decision affecting someone else and then escape every question by saying, “Because I said so.”
If a decision is difficult but necessary, there should at least be a sincere reason behind it. And when appropriate, that reason should be communicated to the person who is affected by the decision.
Otherwise, “It’s my will” can become a disguise for selfishness.
So why does a person say, “It’s my will” ?
Sometimes because they begin to consider their authority a personal right over others.
They forget that authority is not ownership.
Imagine a father wants his daughter to marry someone she does not want to marry. Instead of listening to her concerns, understanding her reasons, or discussing the matter with her, he simply says:
“It will happen according to my will.”
He gives no explanation.
He does not ask why she refuses.
He does not explain the wisdom behind his decision.
He does not try to understand her feelings.
He simply relies on his position of authority.
This is no longer merely a question of making a difficult decision.
It can become an example of using power because the other person does not possess the same power to resist it.
And sometimes that pressure does not even have to be physical. It can take the form of emotional pressure, guilt, fear, or manipulation.
But then comes a much deeper question:
Will a person be able to stand before Allah on the Day of Judgment and simply say, “It was my will”?
Of course not.
Allah knows the intention behind every decision, the circumstances surrounding it, and the way we used the authority entrusted to us.
Ultimately, we are accountable.
But what should a person do when they genuinely have to make a difficult decision one that may be right, but whose wisdom they cannot explain yet?
Here, trust matters.
If you have consistently dealt with people justly, if they know that you care about their wellbeing, and if there is a genuine reason that cannot yet be revealed, you can say:
“Trust me. I cannot explain everything right now, but I promise that when the right time comes, I will explain.”
This is very different from simply saying:
“It’s my will.”
The first asks for trust.
The second can demand submission without explanation.
And when making a decision, one should keep Allah’s command before them and clearly explain that this is Allah’s command, and that no personal selfishness or self-interest is involved in the decision.
We can see an important lesson in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah.
Some of its terms appeared, at first glance, to be extremely difficult for the Muslims. Yet the Prophet ﷺ did not turn his authority into a statement of personal ego. The believers had to exercise patience and trust Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. With time, the wisdom and tremendous benefit of the treaty became apparent.
This teaches us something important:
Not every correct decision will immediately make sense to everyone.
Sometimes a person in a position of responsibility may know something that others do not yet know.
But that does not give human beings the right to behave as though they are absolute masters over others.
We should never try to become “Allah” over another human being.
Absolute authority belongs to Allah.
A human being can request.
A human being can advise.
A human being can make decisions within the responsibility entrusted to them.
A human being can ask others to trust them.
But ultimately, we are all servants of Allah.
And sometimes the words “It’s my will” can create confusion, resentment, and even rebelliousness especially when they are used repeatedly without justice, wisdom, or communication.
That is why the hadith “Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you will be questioned about his flock” should make us rethink the way we use our authority.
A parent should reflect on it.
A husband should reflect on it.
A leader should reflect on it.
A teacher should reflect on it.
Anyone who has responsibility over another person should reflect on it.
Because one day, the question will not simply be:
“Did you have authority?”
The deeper question will be:
“How did you use the authority that was entrusted to you?”
And on that day, “It was my will” will not be enough.
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