Al-Qadaa wa Al-Qadar

As Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

In another thread, I mentioned that anyone going for Haj does so because he was invited there by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta�ala, meaning by Allah�s Will. One brother pointed out that Allah will not invite such people (referring to the said person�s dishonesty) to perform Haj. Anyway to cut a long story short, I want to share with you about Al Qada and Al Qadar.

Normally when we study the different aspects of Islam, we pay more attention to The Pillars of Islam for the simple reason these are acts of duties for which we will be accountable on the Day of Judgment if we neglect them. I never really looked deeply into the concept of the Articles of Faith. I only studied them briefly.

For the past 18 months I having based my studies on the Articles of Faith- What does it really mean to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, The Last Day and Al Qadar (the good and evil thereof)

What intrigued me the most, during this time, was the concept of Al-Qadaa and Al-Qadar and I am still studying this aspect. We have a free choice in matters yet everything is pre-decreed. Very confusing!

What I am sharing here is a brief summary from my notes, which I made while researching this subject online from the various websites and books which I have.

Please feel free to comment or correct me, showing references from the Glorious Qur'an and Sunnah, so we all can learn from our mistakes.

The meaning of Al-Qadaa and Al-Qadar:  when mentioned separately both mean the predestination (pre-decree) of an action or event. When used together Al-Qadar refers to the pre-decree of an action or event before it occurs and Al-Qadaa refers to the act or event after it took place.

�Verily, We have created all things with Qadar (Divine decree)� (Surah Al-Qamar 54:49)

In the famous Hadith referred to as Hadith Jibril (Alayhi Salam) when he asked the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) what is Iman? And the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) replied, �It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers and the Last Day and to believe in predestination, both the good and evil thereof.�

The majority of the scholars agree on four principals pertaining to Al Qadaa and Al-Qadar.

1. Allah�s absolute knowledge of all affairs � what has happened, what is happening and what will happen till the Final Hour.

�It is Allah Who has created the seven heavens and of the earth the same thereof. His Command  descends between them, that you may know that Allah has power over all things. Verily Allah�s knowledge encompasses all things.� (Surah At-Talaq 65:12)

2. Allah has written all that will occur in a persevered tablet � Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz before He created the heavens and the earth.

�Know you not that Allah knows all this is in the heavens and on the earth? Verily, it is (all) in the Book (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz). Verily that is easy of Allah.� (Surah Al-Hajj 22: 70)

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said: �Allah has written what is ordained for creation 50 thousand years before the creation of the heavens and the earth and this Arsh (throne) is over the water. (Agreed upon)

3. Nothing occurs except by the Will of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta�ala, making no difference whether to refers to His Actions or to that of the created being.

�But you cannot will, unless Allah wills. Verily Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise� (Surah Al-Insan 76: 30)

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said: �If the whole Ummah were to unite and try to benefit you in something, they would never benefit you except by that which Allah has written for you. If the whole Ummah were to unite and try to harm you in something, they would never harm you except by that which Allah has written for you.� (this is part of a long Hadith narrated by ibn Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) (Agreed upon)

4. Allah is the Creator of all things � from the minute atom to our own actions.

�While Allah has created you and what you do.� (Surah As-Saffat 37: 96)

According to the majority of the scholars regarding Al-Qadar, as Muslims, we believe that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta�ala knows everything that we do before it happens and has given us the free will to do as we wish. We will be held accountable for what we do, either good or bad. So it is up to us to continue doing good deeds and to refrain from doing evil deeds as we do not know what is decreed for us. We only know what was decreed for us after the event took place. This is the main reason why the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) encouraged us to pray Salatul-Istikharah before making decisions, and put our trust in Allah Subhanahu wa Ta�ala. When the polytheists told the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) �if Allah had willed we would not have committed Shirk� so Allah replied to them thus:

�Those who committed Shirk say: "If Allah had willed, we would not have committed Shirk, nor would our fathers, and we would not have forbidden anything (against His will)." Likewise belied those who were before them, till they tasted Our wrath. Say: "Have you any knowledge (proof) that you can produce before us Verily, you follow nothing but guess and you do nothing but lie." (Surah Al-An�am 6: 148)

�Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allah after the (coming of) Messengers. And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise.� (Surah An-Nisa� 4: 165)

Narrated by 'Ali ibn Talib (Radhi Allahu Anhu): �While we were sitting with the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) who had a stick with which he was scraping the earth, he lowered his head and said, "There is none of you but has his place assigned either in the Fire or in Paradise." Thereupon a man from the people said, "Shall we not depend upon this, O Allah's Apostle?" The Prophet said, "No, but carry on and do your deeds, for everybody finds it easy to do such deeds (as will lead him to his place)." The Prophet then recited the Verse: 'As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him." (92.5) (Al-Bukhari)

Now comes the tricky part. If our actions are already pre-decreed, where is the free will? Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala sent Messengers to guide mankind to the truth, and we are given the choice of believing and obeying the command or rejecting the truth. Allah already knows which path we will take, as it is recorded in the Lawh Al-Mahfuz.

If Al-Qadar is already written for us, what is the benefit of making Dua? The answer to this question by the scholars is that, since we know that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala is in charge of all affairs and is able to do all things, we ask Him and Him Alone when we are in need. He already knows who will ask Him and who will not and how He is going to answer our Dua. On the other hand we do not know if our Dua will be accepted, will it be answered immediately or a trial removed or differed to the Hereafter. The scholars have further explained events will take place if the appropriate steps are taken to make them happen.

Ibn Al-Qayyim (Rahimahullah) said: �The logical consequence of such reasoning leads to rejection of all efforts. It can therefore be said to such a person who denies pre-creed � �If the satisfaction of your hunger and thirst has already been destined for you, then there is no need for you to eat or drink.�

Another example the Shaikh used as an explanation is  �if a son has been destined for you, then you will be granted one, whether you have intercourse or not, if a son has not been destined for you, you will never be granted one, so there is no point in getting married.� This two examples show that this way of thinking is futile and incorrect.

To be continued Insha Allah �����..

Wa Alaikum Salam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

Well stated sister.  Jazakillahu khairan .

Assalamu alaiklum,

Very nice posts on Al-Qadaa and Al-Qadar Sister Alwardah!  A good topic and one which we should all spend some time considering.  This is one of the most interesting aspects of our deen.  The whole concept is so confusing and yet so simple in the end....

It reminds me of that cliche question: "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?"

Alhamdulillah, in the end, it is all the Will of Allah.

Peace, ummziba.

As Salaam Alaikum

thank you for wonderful post.  Allah (SWT) does not force us or compell us to take the path he has written, we are free to chose, but Allah (SWT) knows which path we will take.  that is how I view the topic.