Poll of the Islamic World: Is Life Predetermined?

Do human beings control their own fates, or are our futures predetermined by a higher power? In December 2001 through January 2002, Gallup asked this question of adults in nine predominantly Islamic countries, and posed the same question to a random sample of U.S. adults in March 2002. Opinions varied widely by country.

Respondents were asked, "How strongly do you agree or disagree with the statement that no matter what I want to be or do, there is a supreme power that completely determines the course of my life?" They responded to the statement on a scale of "1" to "5", "1" meaning they totally disagree and "5" meaning they totally agree. Of the nine predominantly Islamic countries surveyed, majorities in seven countries responded with either a "4" or a "5." The countries with the largest majorities who agreed are listed below:

• In Indonesia, 45% totally agreed that a supreme power determines the course of their life, by rating the question with a "5" on a five-point scale. (An additional 42% gave a rating of "4.") Only 1% totally disagreed by giving a rating of "1."
• Fifty-four percent (54%) of Jordanians gave a rating of "5" and 22% gave a rating of "4," for a total of 76%. Nine percent (9%) gave a rating of "1" or "2."
• Half of Pakistanis (50%) rated the question a "5" and 18% rating a "4", for a total of 68%. Eight percent (8%) rated with either a "1" or a "2."
• In Morocco, 31% totally agreed (by giving a rating of "5") and 29% answered with a "4," for a total of 60%. A more significant percentage (19%) rated with a "1" or a "2."

The only predominantly Islamic countries in which majorities of respondents did not rate with either a "4" or a "5" are Iran and Kuwait:

• 30% of Iranians totally agreed (rated with a "5") and 17% rated with a "4," for a total of 47%. A significantly smaller percentage (27%) gave either a "1" or a "2."
• 14% of Kuwaitis rated with a "5" and 22% rated with a "4," for a total of 36%. An equal percentage (36%) rated with a "1" or a "2."

When asked the same question, U.S. adults were more likely to respond at one extreme or the other (either with a "5" or a "1"):

• Thirty-three percent (33%) of U.S. respondents totally agreed with this statement. Only three predominantly Islamic countries (Jordan -- 54%, Pakistan -- 50%, and Indonesia -- 45%) had higher percentages of respondents who totally agreed.
• Twenty percent (20%) of U.S. respondents totally disagree with this statement -- a larger percentage than in any of the predominantly Islamic countries. The countries that came closest are Lebanon (19%), Iran (16%) and Turkey (14%).