Iman is a precious asset to every believer. The believer can give up everything, but he can never give up his Iman. One of the six fundamental subjects of Iman is Belief in Al-Qadr (predestination). And Muslim’s Iman will not be complete until he believes in the predestination. Verily, Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “The first thing Allah created was the pen. He said to it: Write. It asked: What should I write, my Lord? He said: Write the destinies of everything till the Last Hour comes.” [Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith No. 4700]
So I will present many vital things about Belief in Al-Qadr (predestination) that maybe will helpful for every Muslim. And I will also mention the words of Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) about Al-Qadr. So let’s know first what is Belief in Al-Qadr means.
What is Belief in Al-Qadr?
Belief in Al-Qadr is To believe firmly that everything that happens in the universe is according to the knowledge of Allah. He decreed the destinies of everything fifty thousand years before creating the heavens and the earth. And whatever He wants happens. And what He doesn’t want doesn’t happen. In this regard, Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said:
“Allah decreed the destinies fifty-thousand years before He created the Heavens and the earth.” [Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2156]
No one can resist Allah’s judgment. None can reverse His decision. Whatever He decreed for the creation, they will surely get it, and there will be no miss to reach it to them. And whatever He did not decree for the creation, it will never reach them. Verily, believing these are also considered as the Belief in Al-Qadr (predestination).
And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Verily, if Allah punishes everyone in the heavens and the earth, He would do so without being unjust to them, and if He shows mercy to them, His mercy would be much better than their actions. If you spend in Allah’s cause an amount of gold equivalent to Uhud, Allah will not accept it from you till you believed in Al-Qadr and knew that what has come to you could not miss you and that what has missed you could not come to you. If you die without believing it, surely you will enter Hell.” [Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith No. 4699]
What does the Quran say about Al-Qadr?
Allah Ta’ala has mentioned many of His sayings in the Qur’an about Qadr. His words clearly describe that Allah Ta’ala knows very well all that is in the heavens and the earth, all that will happen, and all that happened. He had written everything in the Holy book Lawh Mahfuz. Everything happens according to His will. Of course, He is the only actual Creator of all things. Everything except Him is his creation. Indeed He can do all things. Whatever He does, He does for the welfare of His servants. He is the All-Wise. All creations will not be able to gain even a tiny part of His knowledge.
Allah Ta’ala said: “Do you not know that Allah knows what is in heaven and earth? Indeed, that is (all written) in a book (Lawh Mahfuz). Indeed that, for Allah, is easy.” [Surah Al-Hajj, verse 70]
“He is who belongs to the dominion of the heavens and the earth and who has not taken a son and has not had a partner in dominion and has created each thing and determined it with (precise) determination.” [Surah Al-Furqan, verse 2]
“And if Allah had extended (excessively) provision for His servants, they would have committed tyranny throughout the earth. But He sends (it) down in an amount which He wills. Indeed He is, of His servants, Aware and Seeing.” [Surah Ash-Shuraa, verse 27]
“He knows what is before them and what will be after them (i.e., Allah’s knowledge encompasses every aspect of His creations in the past, present, and future), and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation does not tire Him. And He is the Highest, the Greatest.” [Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 255]
What are the fundamental matters of belief in Al-Qadr?
There are four fundamental matters of belief in Al-Qadr (predestination). I will describe them serially. First, I am mentioning them shortly. These are:
- Belief in the Knowledge of Allah
- To believe that Allah Ta’ala had written everything
- To believe in the domination of Allah’s will
- And to believe that Allah is the only actual Creator of all things
Belief in the Knowledge of Allah
To believe that Allah Ta’ala knows everything. Nothing is hidden from Him, both visible and invisible. Indeed, He perfectly and correctly knows everything past, present, and future through His infinite knowledge. He never forgets any of thing. Nothing else is unknown to Him. In this regard, Allah Ta’ala said:
“And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but He knows it. And no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry (thing) but that it is (written) in a clear book.” [Surah Al-An’am, verse 59]
“And I have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and I am closer to him than (his) jugular vein.” [Surah Qaf, verse 16]
To believe that Allah Ta’ala had written everything
To believe that Allah Ta’ala recorded everything that will happen till the Day of Resurrection in a clear book. The book is Lawh Mahfuz. It is appropriately reserved to Him yet. He had written the destiny of everything in it. Whatever He had written, it will happen. There will not be any exceptions in it. Verily, whatever He wrote about changing will change, and whatever He did not write about changing, it will not change.
And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “There was Allah and nothing else before Him, and His throne was over the water, and He then created the Heavens and the Earth and wrote everything in the Book (before creating the Heavens and the Earth).” [Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 7418]
Allah Ta’ala said: “And there is no creature on (or within) the earth or bird that flies with its wings except (that they are) communities like you. I have not neglected in the Book a thing (Rather, I have recorded all things in it). Then unto their Lord, they will be gathered.” [Surah Al-An’am, verse 38]
“No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a book before I bring it into being – indeed that, for Allah, is easy.” [Surah Al-Hadid, verse 22]
“And whatever strikes you of disaster – it is for what your hands have earned, but He pardons much.” [Surah Ash-Shuraa, verse 30]
To believe in the domination of Allah’s will
To believe that whatever Allah Ta’ala wants happens, and whatever He doesn’t want doesn’t happen. So all creation wants to harm someone, and Allah wants to save him, then no one can harm anything to him. If all creation wants to help someone, and Allah does not want to help him, then no one can help him.
Allah Ta’ala said: “Surely His (Allah’s) command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, ‘Be’, and it is.” [Surah Ya-Sin, verse 82]
“Is not Allah sufficient for His Servant (i.e., Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ)? And (yet), they threaten you by others than Him. Whoever Allah leaves astray – for him, there is no guide. And whoever Allah guides – for him, there is no misleader. Is not Allah Exalted in Might and Owner of Retribution?” [Surah Az-Zumar, verses 36 – 37]
“And if you asked them, Who created the heavens and the earth? They would indeed say, ‘Allah’. Say, Then have you considered what you invoke besides Allah; If Allah intended me harm, are they removers of His harm; or if He intended me mercy, are they withholders of His mercy? Say, Sufficient for me is Allah; upon Him (alone) the reliers rely.” [Surah Az-Zumar, verses 38]
The will of the creations
Allah Ta’ala has given everyone the willpower to do good deeds and forsake evil deeds. He also has given them knowledge about good deeds and evil deeds. So everyone can do good things, and they can also do bad things. Verily, Allah has given everyone the freedom to do good and evil. But He has prohibited them to do evil deeds for the welfare of the world and the Hereafter. Everyone will get results according to his intentions. Of course, the intention is included in people’s willpower.
Allah Ta’ala said: “For him (i.e., each one) are successive (angels) before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah. Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people’s torment, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron.” [Surah Ar-Ra’d, verse 11]
“Does he think that no one has seen him? Have I not made for him two eyes? And a tongue and two lips? And I have shown him the two ways (i.e., the way of good and the way of evil).” [Surah Al-Balad, verses 7 – 10]
“Indeed, I created humankind from a drop of mixed fluids that I may test him; and I made him hearing and seeing. Indeed, I guided him to the way, (then he will choose that) he will be grateful or be ungrateful. Verily, I have prepared chains and shackles and blazing fire for the disbelievers.” [Surah Al-Insan, verses 2 – 4]
To believe that Allah is the only actual Creator of all things
To believe that Allah Ta’ala is the actual creator of all things. Everything except Him is his creation. He gives the knowledge to create something new in the brains of people. And He has created good and evil to test the creation.
Allah Ta’ala said: “Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Maintainer of everything.” [Surah Az-Zumar, verse 62]
“And Allah created you and that which you do.” [Surah As-Saffat, verse 96]
“Every soul will taste death. And I test you with evil and with good as an examination, and to Me, you will be returned.” [Surah Al-Anbya, verse 35]
“He is the one who created death and life to test you (as to) which of you is best in deed – and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving.” [Surah Al-Mulk, verse 2]
May Allah grant us Tawfiq to understand every matter of Al-Qadr properly and give us the grace to believe in Al-Qadr (predestination) correctly. Ameen.
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