Dought & clear, - Belief in al-Qadaa’ wa’l-Qadar (Divine will and decree).

What is the status of sabr (patience) in Islam? What should the Muslim
bear with patience?
Praise be to Allaah.
Belief inal-Qadaa' wa'l-Qadar(Divine will and decree) is one of the
pillars of faith. The Muslim's faith is not complete unless he knows
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 Allaah, as Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"Verily, We have created all things with Qadar (Divine Preordainments
of all things before their creation as written in the Book of
DecreesAl Lawh Al Mahfooz).[al-Qamar 54:49]
The position of patience in relation to faith 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
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full,
without reckoning"[al-Zumar 39:10]
All the disasters and tribulations that happen on earth, or happen to
the individual, or to his wealth or family, etc., were known to Allaah
before they happened, He has written them inal-Lawh al-Mahfooz(the
Preserved Tablet) as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed
in the Book of Decrees (Al Lawh Al Mahfooz) before We bring it into
existence. Verily, that is easy for Allaah"[al-Hadeed 57:22]
No matter what disasters befall a person, it is good for him, whether
he knows that or not, because Allaah does not decree anything but it
is good, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Say: 'Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allaah has ordained
for us. He is our Mawlaa (Lord, Helper and Protector).' And in Allaah
let the believers put their trust"[al-Tawbah 9:51]
Every disaster that happens, happens by Allaah's leave. If He had not
willed it, it would not have happened, but Allaah permitted it to
happen and decreed it, and so it happened. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"No calamity befalls, but by the Leave [i.e. Decision and Qadar
(Divine Preordainments)] of Allaah, and whosoever believes in Allaah,
He guides his heart [to the true Faith with certainty, i.e. what has
befallen him was already written for him by Allaah from the Qadar
(Divine Preordainments)]. And Allaah is the All-Knower of
everything"[al-Taghaabun 64:11]
Once a person knows that all calamities happen by the will and decree
of Allaah, then he has to believe and submit and be patient. The
reward for patience is Paradise, as Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because
they were patient"[al-Insaan 76:12]
The call to Allaah (da'wah) is a great mission, and the one who
undertakes it is exposed to a great deal of harm and calamities. Hence
Allaah enjoined patience upon His Messenger and other Prophets:
"Therefore be patient (O Muhammad) as did the Messengers of strong
will"[al-Ahqaaf 46:35 – interpretation of the meaning]
Allaah has guided the believers, if some matter worries them or some
calamity befalls them to seek help with patience and prayer, so that
Allaah will relieve their distress and give them a way out:
"O you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salaah (the prayer).
Truly, Allaah is with As-Saabiroon (the patient)"
[al-Baqarah 2:153 – interpretation of the meaning]
The believer must bear with patience that which Allaah has decreed,
and be patient in obeying Allaah, and be patient in keeping away from
sin. Whoever is patient, Allaah will give him an immeasurable reward
on the Day of Resurrection, as Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full,
without reckoning"[al-Zumar 39:10]
The believer in particular is rewarded in both good times and bad. The
Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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 gives thanks, and that is good for him, and if something
bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for
him."(Narrated by Muslim, no. 2999)
Allaah has taught us what we should say when calamity strikes, and has
stated that those who are patient will have an honourable position
with their Lord. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"… but give glad tidings to As Saabiroon (the patient).
Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: 'Truly, to Allaah we belong
and truly, to Him we shall return'"[al-Baqarah 2:155-156]

Dought & clear, - Is it permissible to say “circumstances willed” or “circumstances dictated”?.

I read in some stories, literary works and journalistic articles the
phrase "circumstances willed" or "circumstances dictated", or "fate
decreed". What is the ruling on these phrases?
Praise be to Allaah.
These are inappropriate phrases, because circumstances and fate do not
have a will.
The great scholar Muhammad ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah preserve him)
was asked about these phrases, and said:
" 'Fate willed' or 'circumstances willed/dictated' are reprehensible
phrases, because the Arabic word for circumstances,zuroof, is the
plural ofzarf, which is another word for time – and time does not have
a will. Similarly, fate does not have a will either.
The One Who does have a will is Allaah. If a person says 'the decree
of Allaah dictated such and such', there is nothing wrong with that.
But it is not correct to attribute will to decrees, because the will
does not belong to the description, it belongs to the One Who is
described."Majmoo' Fataawa wa Rasaa'il Muhammad ibn 'Uthaymeen,
3/131-132

Dought & clear, - Is man’s fate pre-destined or does he have freedom of will?.

Is our fate completely pre-destined? Some say we have a choice of
which path to choose but what you will find at the end of the path has
been chosen for you by Allah. I have also read that qadar was perhaps
created by Jahm b. Safwan, not Allah.
Where can I find the information in the Quran and if there is a set
destiny how much of it is chosen by God? Is there really a set day on
which I will have birth and another for earthly death, for whom I will
marry?
What if I did meet the man I am supposed to marry but I somehow choose
the wrong path (so I may believe) only to realize I did wrong. Will he
come in my path again or have I altered my destiny so that my
punishment may be that I can not have this person in my life?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Belief in al-qadar (the divine will and decree) is one of the pillars
of faith, because the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said, when he answered Jibreel's question about faith: "(It
means) believing in Allaah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers and
the Last Day, and to believe in al-qadar (the divine decree) both good
and bad."
What is meant by al-qadar is that Allaah has decreed all things from
eternity and knows that they will happen at times that are known to
Him, and in specific ways, and that He has written that and willed it,
and they happen according to what He has decreed. [al-Qada'
wa'l-Qadarby Dr 'Abd al-Rahmaan al-Mahmoud, p. 39].
Belief in al-qadar is based on four things:
1 - Knowledge, i.e., that Allaah knows what His creation will do, by
virtue of His eternal knowledge.
2 - Writing, i.e., that Allaah has written the destiny of all
creatures in al-Lawh al-Mahfooz.
3 - Will, i.e., that what Allaah wills happens and what He does not
will does not happen. There is no movement in the heavens or on earth
but it happens by His will.
4 - Creation and formation, i.e., that Allaah is the Creator of all
things, including the actions of His slaves. They do their actions in
a real sense, and He is the Creator of them and of their actions.
Whoever believes in these four believes in al-qadar.
The Qur'aan affirms these things in numerous verses, such as the
verses in which He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And with Him are the keys of the Ghayb (all that is hidden), none
knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land 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"
[al-An'aam 6:59]
"No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed
in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooz) before We bring it into
existence. Verily, that is easy for Allaah"
[al-Hadeed 57:22]
"And you cannot will unless (it be) that Allaah willsthe Lord of the
'Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)"
[al-Takweer 81:29]
"Verily, We have created all things with Qadar (Divine Preordainments
of all things before their creation as written in the Book of
DecreesAl-Lawh Al-Mahfooz)"
[al-Qamar 54:49]
Muslim (2653) narrated that 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas said: I
heard the Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) say: "Allaah wrote down the decrees of creation fifty thousand
years before He created the heavens and the earth." He said: "And His
Throne was upon the water."
Hence it should be clear to you that the view that al-qadar was
invented by al-Jahm ibn Safwaan is a view that has no sound basis.
Al-qadar was not created, rather creation comes under the heading of
belief in al-qadar. Al-Jahm went to extremes in affirming the divine
will and decree, and claimed that people are compelled to do what they
do and have no choice. This is a false view.
The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah is that a person has freedom
of will, and hence he will be rewarded or punished. But his will is
subject to the will of Allaah, and nothing can take place in the
universe that is not willed by Allaah.
What some people say, that we have the choice to follow whatever path
we want but at the end of this path you will find what Allaah has
decreed for you, is a correct view. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"Verily, We showed him the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful"
[al-Insaan 76:3]
"And shown him the two ways (good and evil)?"
[al-Balad 90:10]
"And say: "The truth is from your Lord." Then whosoever wills, let him
believe; and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve"
[al-Kahf 18:29]
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said,
explaining the view of Ahl al-Sunnah with regard to man's deeds:
People act in a real sense, and Allaah is the Creator of their
actions. A person may be a believer or a kaafir, righteous or immoral,
he may pray and fast. People have control over their actions, and they
have their own will, and Allaah is the Creator of their control and
will, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"To whomsoever among you who wills to walk straight.
And you cannot will unless (it be) that Allaah willsthe Lord of the
'Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)"
[al-Takweer 81:28-29]
al-Waasitiyyah ma'a Sharh Harraas, p. 65.
Marriage is one of the things that Allaah has decreed. The person whom
you will marry is known to Allaah: He knows who he is, when he was
born, where and when he will die, how he will be towards you, and
other details. All of that is known to Allaah and He has written it in
al-Lawh al-Mahfooz (the Book of Decrees), and it will inevitably come
to pass as Allaah has decreed.
If Allaah has decreed that you will marry one person, but you choose
someone else, then no matter how long it takes, you will marry that
person. But your marriage to someone else is also decreed, because
there is nothing that is not decreed by Allaah. It may be decreed for
a woman to marry So and so the son of So and so, and he comes to
propose marriage but she refuses him, and marries someone else, then
he (the second man) dies or divorces her, then she accepts the first
one. All of that is decreed, and it is decreed for her to marry So and
so the son of So and so after initially refusing him and after some
experience or trials etc.
It may be decreed for a woman that a righteous man will propose
marriage to her, but she will refuse him and he will never come back
to her, and she will marry and live with someone else who is more or
less righteous, according what Allaah has decreed.
Because man does not know what is decreed for him, what he must do is
to adhere to sharee'ah and abide by its commands and prohibitions, and
to seek the help of Allaah and pray to Him for guidance (istikhaarah)
concerning all his affairs, whilst implementing the means, one of the
most important of which is consulting sincere people who have relevant
experience.
If a righteous man proposes marriage to a woman, she should pray to
Allaah for guidance (istikhaarah) and agree to marry him. If things
then go smoothly, this is an indication that what is good for her is
to marry him.
In conclusion, man should study the sharee'ah of Allaah and follow the
commands of Allaah even if he feels reluctant, and avoid what Allaah
has forbidden even if he is attached to it. All goodness is to be
found in obeying sharee'ah. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"Jihaad(holy fighting in Allaah's Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims)
though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is
good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allaah
knows but you do not know"
[al-Baqarah 2:216]
He should not look at al-qadar as an excuse to ignore commands and do
forbidden things, rather he should look at it in a way that will make
him content with whatever painful experiences happen to him.
And Allaah knows best.

Dought & clear, - Why Allaah creates mentally disabled people.

Why has Allah created mentally Disabled people
Praise be to Allaah.
One of the basic principles of Islam is to believe in the wisdom of
the Lord in what He creates and commands, and in what He wills and
decrees, in the sense that He does not create anything in vain and He
does not decree anything in which there is not some benefit for His
slaves. So everything that exists is His will and decree. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Allaah is the Creator of all things"[al-Ra'd 13:16]
His perfect wisdom decrees that He creates opposites, so He has
created angels and devils, night and day, purity and impurity, good
and ugly, and He has created good and evil. He created His slaves with
differences in their bodies and minds, and in their strengths. He has
made some rich and some poor, some healthy and some sickly, some wise
and some foolish. By His wisdom, He tests them, and He tests some by
means of others, to show who will be grateful and who will be
ungrateful. Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):
"Verily, We have created man from Nutfah (drops) of mixed semen
(sexual discharge of man and woman), in order to try him, so We made
him hearer and seer.
Verily, We showed him the way, whether he be grateful or
ungrateful"[al-Insaan 76:2]
"Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is
best in deed"
[al-Mulk 67:2]
When the sound believer sees disabled people, he recognizes the
blessing that Allaah has bestowed upon him, so he gives thanks for His
blessing, and He asks Him for good health. He knows that Allaah is
Able to do all things.
People are incapable of comprehending Allaah's wisdom. He cannot be
questioned as to what He does , while they will be questioned.
Glorified and exalted be He. Whatever you understand of His wisdom,
believe in it, and whatever you cannot understand, say, "Allaah knows
best and is most wise, and we know nothing except that which You have
taught us, and He is the All-Knowing, Most Wise."