The four aspects of belief in Al-Qadr (Divine Decree)

meaning Allaah's predestination of measurements and sustenance of
everything and everyone, according to His Knowledge and Wisdom. It
comprises the following four aspects:
1. Knowledge - The belief that Allaah's knowledge encompasses
everything, every matter, major or minor, and the time frame of
everything that happens in this universe. Allaah's Knowledge
encompasses all of His actions and actions takenby His slaves.
2. Pre - Recording - The belief that Allaah recorded everything in a
Tablet that He kept with Himself, called 'Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooth' (The
Preserved Tablet). Allaah Says ((what means)): " Do you not know that
Allaah knows what is in the heaven and earth? Indeed that is in a
Record[i.e., Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooth]. Indeed that, for Allaah, is easy."
[Quran 22:70] Abdullaah bin 'Amr bin Al-'Aas said that he heard the
Messenger of Allaah say: "Allaah recorded the measurement of all
matters pertaining to creation fifty thousand years before He created
the heavens and earth." [Muslim]
3. The Will of Allaah - The belief that nothing, whether related to
Allaah's actions or actionstaken by His slaves, can occur without His
permission. Allaah Says (what means): "And your Lord creates what He
wills and chooses..." [Quran 28:68] And (what means): "…And Allaah
does what He wills." [Quran 14:27] And (what means) "It is He who
forms you in the wombs however He wills…" [Quran 3:6] As for actions
taken by His creation, Allaah Says (what means): "…And if Allaah had
willed, He could have given them power over you, and they would have
fought you." [Quran 4:90] And (what means): "…And if Allaah had
willed, they would not have done so. So leave them and that which they
invent." [Quran 6:137]
4. Creation - The belief that Allaah created all creation, all what
they possess of attributes, andall their actions. Allaah Says (what
means): " Allaah is the Creator of allthings, and He is, over all
things, Disposer of affairs." [Quran 39:62] And (what means): "…He has
created each thing and determined it with [precise] determination."
[Quran: 25:2]Also, Ibraaheem said to his people (what means): "While
Allaah created you and that which you do?" [Quran 37:96]
Believing in Al-Qadr, as described above, does not mean that people
have no power over the actions they choose to take. The Sharee'ah
(Islamic Law) as well as reality, confirm man has a will of his own:
As for the Sharee'ah, Allaah Says about one's own will (what means):
"…So he who wills may take to his Lord a [way of] return [by obeying
hiscommandments]." [Quran78:39] And (what means): "So come to your
place of cultivation however you wish …" [Quran 2:223] As for one's
own power over his actions, Allaah Says (what means):" So fear Allaah
as much as you are able and listenand obey…" [Quran 64:16] And (what
means): "Allaah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its
capacity. It willhave [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained,
and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned…"
[Quran 2:286]
As for reality, every human knows that he has a power and a will ofhis
own. He uses his power and will to indulge in or avoid actions of his
choice. People distinguish between what they do bytheir own power and
between what they have no power over, like shivering due to illness
orthe extreme cold. However, the power and will of mankind is under
the control of Allaah's Will and Power; Allaah Says (what means): "
For whoever wills among you to take a right course. And you do not
will except that Allaah wills – Lord of the worlds." [Quran 81:28-29].
The universe isAllaah's property and nothing happens in His Kingdom
without His Knowledge and Permission.
Belief in Al-Qadr, as explained above, does not provide an excuse
formankind to sin or abandon what they are obligated to do. This
excuse can be refuted by the following seven arguments:
1. Allaah Says (what means): " Those who associated with Allaah will
say: 'If Allaah had willed, we would not have associated [anything]
and neither would our fathers, nor would we have prohibited anything.'
Likewise did those before deny until they tasted Our punishment. Say:
'Do you have any knowledge that you can produce for us?' You follow
not except assumption, and you are not but falsifying." [Quran 6:148]
The disbelievers did not have a valid excuse when they said that what
they did was according to Al-Qadr.If this excuse was valid, then why
will Allaah punish them for their sins?
2. Allaah Says (what means): "[We sent] messengers as bringers of good
tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against
Allaah after the messengers. And ever is Allaah Exalted in Might and
Wise." [Quran 4:165] Sending the Messengers also took place
accordingto Al-Qadr. This is why thedisbelievers cannot use Al-­Qadr
as an excuse for not believing, because Al-Qadr provided them with the
means to escapeAllaah's punishment by following His Messengers,may
Allaah exalt their mention.
3. Ali Ibn Abu Taalib narrated that the Prophet 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
Allaah?" (Meaning, to abandon doing good deeds) He said: "No! Perform
(good) deeds, because everyone will behelped (to go on the paththat he
chooses and reach his destiny)." Then he read the verse (which means):
"As for he who gives [in charity] and fears Allaah." [Quran 92:5]"
4. Allaah conveyed His commandments to His slaves and did not require
them to do what is beyond their capacity; He says: "So fear Allaah
asmuch as you are able…" [Quran 64:16] And: "Allaah does not charge
asoul except [with that within] its capacity…" [Quran: 2:286] If the
slaveis forced to do whatever deeds he performs, then Allaah would
have required from him what is beyond his capacity, and this is a
false belief. For this reason, Allaah forgives sins that take place
because of ignorance or forgetfulness.
5. Al-Qadr is a matter of Allaah's Knowledge. No one can uncover his
own Qadr except after it occurs. One's intention toperform a deed
precedes the action itself. He does not know what Al-Qadr holds for
him. Therefore, Al-Qadr is not a valid excuse for sinning and
abandoning the commandments of Allaah.
6. One always seeks what is convenient for him. No one of sane mind
would abandon what brings material benefit to him, saying that Al-Qadr
forced him to take this course of action. Therefore, why would one use
Al-Qadr as an excuse for abandoning what brings benefit to him in
matters of religionand not do the same for matters of life?
7. If one of those who abandon the commandments of Allaah and indulge
in sinning comes under attack of hishonour or possessions, would he
accept the excuse of the attacker, if he says that he attacked him
because it was his Qadr to attack him, and therefore he is not to be
blamed? Indeed no!
Therefore, why does this person refuse Al-Qadr as an excuse for
whoever attacked him, and at the same time use Al-Qadr as his excuse
for abandoning Allaah's rights on him?
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 Allaah." 'Umar replied "And we are amputating your
hand because it is in