QADR

QADR

Qadr or Qadar (Arabic: قدر‎), it means "fate or predestination or measure", and when used in relation to Allah (Glory be to Him), means Al-Qadar is Allah’s predestination of measurements and sustenance of everything and everyone, according to His Knowledge and Wisdom. [1]

Introduction

A Muslim believes in Allah's predestination of all things and events (Qadhaa), His decree (Qadar), His wisdom in His actions, and His will. Nothing in the universe can occur, even the voluntary actions of His slaves, except after Allah's knowledge, and His decree of that event. A Muslim further believes that Allah (Glory be to Him)is Just in His predestination and His decree, Wise in all of His actions. His wisdom follows His will: Whatever He wills is, and whatever He does not will is not. There is no power or any movement except by Allah’s (Glory be to Him) will.

 

Sixth pillar of Eeman

It is one of the six pillars of Eeman (faith) in Islam. It is divine destiny in Islam. More precisely, Qadr relates to the Destiny or fate about all events. Islamic theology claims that Omniscience of Allah (Glory be to Him) is not rationally inconsistent with the notion of free will granted to man in his earthly life. It’s a belief in predestination. The core Islamic belief is that man has been given free will in this life, and the retribution in the Hereafter life is based on how he utilizes his freedom of choice in the worldly trial.

 

Evidence of Qadr from Qur’an

Allah (Glory be to Him) informed us of this in the Qur'an:

 

Verily, We have created all things with Qadar (Divine Preordainments of all things before their creation, as written in the Book of Decrees Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz). Qur'an.Surah Qamar 54:49

 

And there is not a thing, but with Us are the stores thereof. And We send it not down except in a known measure. Qur'an.Surah Hijr 15:21

 

No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz), before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah. Qur'an.Surah Hadeed 57:22.

 

No calamity befalls, but with the Leave [i.e. decision and Qadar (Divine Preordainments)] of Allâh, and whosoever believes in Allâh, He guides his heart [to the true Faith with certainty, i.e. what has befallen him was already written for him by Allâh from the Qadar (Divine Preordainments)], and Allâh is the All-Knower of everything. Qur'an.Surah Taghabun 64:11.

 

And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record. Qur'an.Surah Anam 6:59. [2]

 

Hadith

Narrated Abu Huraira(R): Allah's Apostle (May Allah honour Him and grant Him Peace) said, "Adam and Moses argued with each other. Moses said to Adam, 'You are Adam whose mistake expelled you from Paradise.' Adam said to him, 'You are Moses whom Allah selected as His Messenger and as the one to whom He spoke directly; yet you blame me for a thing which had already been written in my fate before my creation?' "Allah's Apostle (May Allah honour Him and grant Him Peace) said twice, "So, Adam overpowered Moses." Sahih Al Bukhari Vol 4:621  [3]

 

The Growth Of A Child In The Womb Of A Mother And His Destiny In Regard To His Livelihood, His Deeds, Both Good And Evil

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud reported that Allah's Messenger (May Allah honour Him and grant Him Peace) who is the most truthful (of the human beings) and his being truthful (is a fact) said: Verily your creation is on this wise. The constituents of one of you are collected for forty days in his mother's womb in the form of blood, after which it becomes a clot of blood in another period of forty days. Then it becomes a lump of flesh and forty days later Allah sends His angel to it with instructions concerning four things, so the angel writes down his livelihood, his death, his deeds, his fortune and misfortune. By Him, besides Whom there is no god, that one amongst you acts like the people deserving Paradise until between him and Paradise there remains but the distance of a cubit, when suddenly the writing of destiny overcomes him and he begins to act like the denizens of Hell and thus enters Hell, and another one acts in the way of the denizens of Hell, until there remains between him and Hell a distance of a cubit that the writing of destiny overcomes him and then he begins to act like the people of Paradise and enters Paradise.Sahih Al Muslim 6390[4]

 

Four aspects of Qadr

Al-Qadar encompasses four themes:

 

1) Allah’s Knowledge (al-'ilm),

 

2) Allah’s Writing (al-kitabah),

 

3) Allah’s Will (al-mashee’ah, and

 

4) Allah’s Creation (al-khalq).

 

Each of these themes is discussed below.

 

1. Knowledge - The belief that Allah’s knowledge encompasses everything, every matter, major or minor, and the time frame of everything that happens in this universe. Allah’s Knowledge encompasses all of His actions and actions taken by His slaves. "Verily Allah is the All-knowing of everything" Qur'an.surah Anfal 8:75

 

2. Pre-Recording - The belief that Allah recorded everything in a Tablet that He kept with Himself, called 'Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooth' (The Preserved Tablet). Allah Says ((what means)): “Do you not know that Allah knows what is in the heaven and earth? Indeed that is in a Record [i.e., Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooth]. Indeed that, for Allah, is easy.” Qur’an.Surah Hajj 22:70

Abdullaah bin 'Amr bin Al-'Aas® said that he heard the Messenger of Allah (May Allah honour Him and grant Him Peace) say: “Allah recorded the measurement of all matters pertaining to creation fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and earth.” [Muslim]

 

3. The Will of Allah - The belief that nothing, whether related to Allah’s actions or actions taken by His slaves, can occur without His permission. Allah Says (what means): “And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses...” [Qur’an.Surah Qasas 28:68] And (what means): “…And Allah does what He wills.” [Qur’an.Surah Ibrahim 14:27] And (what means) “It is He who forms you in the wombs however He wills…” [Qur’an.Surah Ale Imran 3:6] As for actions taken by His creation, Allah Says (what means): “…And if Allah had willed, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you.” [Qur’an.Surah Nisa 4:90] And (what means): “…And if Allah had willed, they would not have done so. So leave them and that which they invent.” Qur’an.Surah Anam 6:137. "If Allah willed, He would have made you one nation, but that (He) may test you in what He has given you." Qur'an.Surah Maidah 5:48

 

4. Creation - The belief that Allah created all creation, all what they possess of attributes, and all their actions. Allah Says (what means): “Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is, over all things, Disposer of affairs.” Qur’an.Surah Zumar 39:62 

And (what means):  “…He has created each thing and determined it with [precise] determination.”  Qur’an.Surah Furqan25:2 

Also, Ibraaheem said to his people (what means): “While Allah created you and that which you do?” Qur’an.Surah Saffath 37:96 

Ali Ibn Abu Taalib narrated that the Prophet (May Allah honour Him and grant Him Peace) said: “The final destination, in Hell or Paradise, is already determined for each one of you.” A man said: “Should we depend on this fact, O Messenger of Allah?" (Meaning, to abandon doing good deeds) He said: “No! Perform (good) deeds, because everyone will be helped (to go on the path that he chooses and reach his destiny).” Then he read the ayath (which means): “As for he who gives [in charity] and fears Allah.” Qur’an.Surah Layl 92:5

 

It was reported that a man who was caught stealing was brought to 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab who ordered that this man’s hand be cut off. The man said: “Wait, O leader of the believers! I only stole because this was in the Qadr of Allah." 'Umar(R) replied “And we are amputating your hand because it is in the Qadr of Allah.” Source: A Translation of Sharh Usool Al-Eeman, by Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih Al-Uthaymeen [5]

The benefits of belief in Divine Decree and Predestination

 Belief in Al-Qadha’ Wal-Qadr (The Divine Decree and The Predestination) is one of the pillars of faith in Islam. None of the Muslim’s faith will complete unless he believes that whatever befalls him could not have missed him, and whatever misses him could not have befallen him. Everything is subject to the Will and Decree of Allah, as Allah Says in the Quran (what means): “Indeed, all things We created with predestination”. [Quran 54:49]

All the disasters and tribulations that happen on earth, or happen to the individual, or to his wealth or family, etc., were known to Allah before they happened, He has written them in Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooth (the Preserved Tablet) as He Says (what means): “No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being — indeed that, for Allah, is easy.” [Quran 57:22]

No matter what disasters befall a person, it is good for him, whether he realizes that or not, because Allah does not decree anything but it is good, as He Says (what means): “Say, “Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector.” And upon Allah let the believers rely.” [Quran 9:51]

Every disaster happens by Allah's leave. If He had not willed it, it would not have happened, but Allah permitted it to happen and decreed it, and so it happened. Allah Says (what means): “No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah — He will guide his heart. And Allah is Knowing of all things.” [Quran 64:11]

Once a person knows that all calamities happen by the will and decree of Allah, then he has to believe and submit and be patient. The reward for patience is Paradise, as Allah Says (what means): “And will reward them for what they patiently endured [with] a garden [in Paradise] and silk [garments].” [Quran 76:12]

The position of patience in relation to this aspect of faith, in particular, is like that of the head in relation to the body. Patience is a noble attribute with good consequences. Those who are patient will have an unlimited reward, as Allah Says (what means): “Say, “O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account [i.e. limit].” [Quran 39:10]

Another good outcome to perseverance through the Decree of Allah, is the believer (in particular) is rewarded in both good times and bad. Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for all his affairs are good, and that is for no one except the believer. If something good happens to him, he expresses gratitude, and that is good for him, and if something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” [Muslim]

 

 

Allah has taught us what we should say when calamity strikes, and has stated that those who are patient will have an honorable position with their Lord. Allah Says (what means): “… But give good tidings to the patient. Who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” [Quran 2:155-156]

The benefits of Belief in Divine Decree and Predestination:

The benefits of the Divine Decree and the Predestination can be highlighted through the following points:

1. Peace of mind: A Muslim who believes in Divine Decree and Predestination will have his mind at ease when he knows for certain that what befell him could not have missed him and what missed him could not have reached him.

2. Contentment: It doesn't make him grieve about anything because he doesn't say things that reflect discontent like “if I did such and such then such and such would have happened”. Also, he doesn't worry too much about the future because he believes that everything is already written. What he should worry about is his deeds and doing good.

3. Boost up the willpower and the determination: It gives him the will power and determination to go forward in the way of Allah. A Muslim doesn't fear anybody because he knows that no one has the power to afflict harm on him without it being decreed by Allah. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, clarified this point to Ibn Abbas, may Allaah be pleased with him, saying:

“…If the whole nation were to gather together to benefit you they would only benefit you with that which Allah had already written for you and if the whole nation were to gather to harm you they could only harm you with that which Allah had already written to harm you. The pen has been lifted and the ink has dried (a phrase meaning: everything has been decreed or settled)”. [At-Tirmithi]

4. Become modest and humble: It teaches the Muslim to be modest and humble. This is so because everything that a Muslim does is by the Will of Allah so if he succeeds he knows that Allah helped him in doing it; he doesn't succeed because he is intelligent or because he is rich or because he deserves it, and, likewise, a person isn't poor because he is stupid. This stops pride and arrogance from creeping to his heart because he knows that Allah can afflict him with harm and deprive him from the bounties he boasts about.

5. Total dependence upon Allah: A Muslim takes precautions, does as much as he can and then depends upon Allah because the Divine Decree does not stop him from taking precautions and utilizing worldly means.

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Take precautions as everybody is guided to that which has been destined for him.” As for you should drink to quench your thirst. If something bad comes, it is because of our bad doings and if something good reaches us then it is from Allah's grace.

Almighty Allah Says (what means): “What comes to you of good is from Allah, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself.” [Quran 4:79]