Rational Choice in the Qur'an and Hadiths
Authors: İnan Ali , Gül Recep Emin 
Published: June 2022

The rational choice theory, which first emerged as a theory trying to understand the choices of individuals in their economic lives, later started to be used in sociology as another approach that can help in understanding the actions of individuals in their daily lives. Although there are some criticisms about the application of rational choice theory to other social sciences and especially to the religious field due to its economic background, the existence of rational choice theory has recently started to be talked about in people's preferences regarding the religious field. In this study, firstly, the rational choice theory is briefly mentioned, and then its use in explaining religious behaviors is discussed. At this point, the concepts of will, freewill and responsibility in the religious literature are discussed. Then, it is mentioned that religious behaviors are handled and evaluated within the framework of rational choice. Finally, examples that can be considered as rational choice are given in the verses and hadiths, although the theory emerged later. In the study, instead of discussing all aspects of rational choice theory, the aspect of this theory, which considers people as free individuals who act rationally in their actions and can calculate profit and loss in their preferences, is emphasized. In this respect, examples of individuals being free in their preferences and rational behavior in their preferences are emphasized in the Qur'an and hadiths. Issues such as the freedom of people, having free will and having a freewill in their preferences are one of the issues that have been discussed, still being discussed within the scope of human freedom in many fields, especially in theology and philosophy. In this study, the ability to act rationally in the context of the Qur'an and hadiths is discussed, taking into account the individual's situation of being punished or rewarded in line with the choices they make, away from theological and philosophical approaches and discussions. There are different approaches to explaining religious behavior. At this point, no claim is made in the study that all religious behaviors can be explained within the scope of rational choice theory. In the study, rather than the economic approach of rational choice theory, it has been tried to convey through examples from the verses and hadiths that the religious behavior of individuals in the context of Islam is done by meeting the needs of a minimum level of consciousness and rationality, and that people are made responsible/responsible as a result of doing what they prefer, taking into account the consequences and profits/losses. In the study, it has been determined that the concept of will, which is included in the Islamic literature, is handled within the scope of the individual's freedom of choice and this provides an opportunity for rational choice. It is seen that this freedom of choice also brings a responsibility to the person. Therefore, the concepts of will and responsibility appear as concepts related to rational choice theory. In the examples taken from the Qur'an and hadiths, it has been determined that Allah and His Messenger (pbuh) advised people to choose the more beneficial one. The recommendations in question may be related to the life of this world as well as to the life of the hereafter. Declaring in the Qur'an and hadiths that it would be more beneficial for a person to prefer the hereafter rather than worldly life; However, the Prophet's advice to his companions about the worldly life, which is more beneficial, is one of the indicators of this situation.