[3:182] “This is the consequence of your own works.” GOD is never unjust towards the people.
Are there negative and positive consequences?
Consequences are typically associated with the negative, but could go both ways.
[36:12] We will certainly revive the dead, and we have recorded everything they have done in this life, as well as the consequences that continue after their death. Everything we have counted in a profound record.
Since God is doing everything what are we responsible for and what is our own works?
God is the Doer of Everything*
[4:78] Wherever you are, death will catch up with you, even if you live in formidable castles. When something good happens to them, they say, “This is from GOD,” and when something bad afflicts them, they blame you. Say, “Everything comes from GOD.” Why do these people misunderstand almost everything? Footnote Nothing Bad Comes From God
*4:78 Bad things are consequences of our own deeds (42:30, 64:11), though God is the doer of everything (8:17). God created the fire to serve us, but you can decide to put your finger in it. We thus hurt ourselves. It is God’s law that if you put your finger in the fire, it will hurt.
[4:79] Anything good that happens to you is from GOD, and anything bad that happens to you is from you. We have sent you as a messenger to the people,* and GOD suffices as witness.
When the believers went to battle they all experienced the loss of their comrades, yet to the true believers they saw this as good thing and the questionable believers saw this as a reason to doubt and flee. Therefore the only thing we are responsible for are our thoughts and our thoughts will be manifested in our actions.
Moment of Death Predetermined
[3:154] After the setback, He sent down upon you peaceful slumber that pacified some of you. Others among you were selfishly concerned about themselves. They harbored thoughts about GOD that were not right – the same thoughts they had harbored during the days of ignorance. Thus, they said, “Is anything up to us?” Say, “Everything is up to GOD.” They concealed inside themselves what they did not reveal to you. They said, “If it was up to us, none of us would have been killed in this battle.” Say, “Had you stayed in your homes, those destined to be killed would have crawled into their death beds.” GOD thus puts you to the test to bring out your true convictions, and to test what is in your hearts. GOD is fully aware of the innermost thoughts.
How the disbelievers view the situation:
[3:156] O you who believe, do not be like those who disbelieved and said of their kinsmen who traveled or mobilized for war, “Had they stayed with us, they would not have died or gotten killed.” GOD renders this a source of grief in their hearts. GOD controls life and death. GOD is Seer of everything you do.
How the believers view the situation:
The Righteous Do Not Really Die*
[3:169] Do not think that those who are killed in the cause of GOD are dead; they are alive at their Lord, enjoying His provisions.
[3:170] They are rejoicing in GOD’s grace, and they have good news for their comrades who did not die with them, that they have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
[3:171] They have good news of GOD’s blessings and grace, and that GOD never fails to reward the believers.
Another way to think of this is that I make a decision and based on my decision the corresponding events will take place to correct my ways if I strive to fix myself or the opposite if I am looking for reasons to disbelieve. It is kind of like the choose your own adventure stories.
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