Embrace Your Destiny
Chapter 34
Qadr is beyond the realm of human intelligence and it would be arrogant to presume that we should comprehend it.
The Qur’ān asserts that the role of Messengers is to guide mankind to choose Truth over falsehood, to warn them of the consequences of turning away from Allāh’s religion, and to inspire them to strive for a place in paradise. Allāh says: ‘Messengers bringing good news and giving warning, so that people will have no argument against Allāh after the coming of the Messengers. Allāh is Almighty, All-Wise.
If one focuses on certain aspects of the textual evidences, or perceives them from only one dimension they will misunderstand the whole concept of Divine Decree (Qadar). For instance, if some people were to simply focus on those textual evidences that confirm that Allāh guides and misguides people, they would conclude that human beings in reality have no free will.
Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, had some wisdom filled words concerning such people who don’t take the appropriate steps to make the desired event happen: “The logical consequences of such a reasoning leads to a rejection of all efforts. It can, therefore, be said to a person who holds this view, if the satisfaction of your hunger and thirst has already been destined for you, then it will be fulfilled, whether you eat or not.”
Conversely, if people focus on the fact that human beings have a free will and neglect the fact that the will of creatures is bound to and operating within the Will of Allāh, they will affirm free will in an extreme autonomous sense.
Believing in Divine Decree (Qadar) entails a conviction that Allāh had already decreed whatever will occur and all that occurs comes into existence in a manner already determined. Nothing occurs autonomously from Allāh’s Will, not rainfall, the passing of seasons, not even the actions of human beings. This however does not necessarily entail that human beings are deprived of a free will and responsible for their actions.
Many people are confused about how it is that Allāh misguides some people out of justice. The answer is simple, yet, it should be made clear from the outset that the matter of being guided is far from arbitrary or a case of favouritism, Exalted and Elevated is Allāh from such.
Allāh placed inside of every human being an internal moral compass (fiṭrah) that gives a call from within to adhere to good and abhor evil. He then sent Messengers to call the people to His religion and adhere to His prescriptions; thus guiding them further. And He placed signs in all creation that point to His existence and Lordship.
As for those who are misguided, they were misguided because they rejected the guidance of Allāh in the first place, going against the internal moral compass (fiṭrah) Allāh endowed in them; thus Allāh debases them further due to their initial sin of rejecting His general guidance and suppressing the call from within. Allāh, Exalted is He, is not unjust in the least to anyone. Only when people turn away from Him, does He then misguide them. Such as the case of the Children of Israel: ‘… when they deviated, Allāh made their hearts deviate. Allāh does not guide people who are deviators.’
The issue of punishing the sinner is a matter of justice and can easily be appreciated as such; for how could an evil person, who disobeys Allāh, be treated like a believer, who strives to devote himself to Allāh in obedience. Allāh’s punishment befalls the sinner in many ways, both in this life and in the hereafter. In this life he is punished by being led further and further astray; ultimately being distanced from Paradise and drawn closer to a fate in the Hellfire. The believer who obeys is not treated the same, he is rewarded and part of that reward is to be guided by Allāh ever more. This is the holistic understanding of the sacred texts relating to guidance, and it all points to the Supreme Justice and Grace of Allāh. This belief sets the scene of how Allāh created us and gave us life in order to test us. It is a belief that inspires and motivates a person to hasten to believe and obey his Creator and to strive in overcoming difficulties with faith and reliance in Him, Exalted is He.
If Qadr Has Already Been Prescribed for Us do We Need to Make Du’a (Supplication)?
Many people have come to understand that if Qadr has already been written for us, and we will receive that which has been prescribed for us then what is the benefit of making du’a? The answer to this question lies in the understanding of the principle that events will take place if the appropriate steps are taken to make them happen. Thus since we know that Allah is in charge of all affairs and is able to do all things, He is the one we ask when we are in need. He already knew we were going to ask him, but waited till we actually do the act of asking before he answers our du’a. So in order to achieve that final goal (to get what we asked for in our du’a) we have to take the step of actually making du’a.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Nothing increases one’s life-span except good deeds, and nothing repels divine decree except du’a. And verily, a person may be deprived of sustenance due to a sin that he commits.” (Authenticated by Shaykh al-Albani in Sahih ibn Majah)
The writing is of two types: one kind which cannot be altered or changed, which is what is in al-Lawh al-Mahfooz, and a type which may be altered or changed, which is in the hands of the angels. And the ultimate outcome is what is written in al-Lawh al-Mahfooz for Allah knows whether His slave will uphold the ties of kinship or make du’aa’, so He writes in al-Lawh al-Mahfooz that this person will have more provision or a longer life span. This is one of the meanings of the words of Allah “Allah blots out what He wills and confirms (what He wills). And with Him is the Mother of the Book (Al Lawh Al Mahfooz)” (13:39)
The life of this world has been created beset with trials and tribulation. This is something Allāh, intended and with great wisdom. Allāh stated that He: ‘created death and life to test which of you is best in action’, and that: ‘We created man from a mingled drop to test him, and We made him hearing and seeing’. This clarifies that this life is simply a test in order to see who will adhere best to Allāh’s Commands and stay true to their faith in Him. So know that actions are done by people but they are created by Allah, so we are free to decide the right and the wrong path for ourselves and this is our test in this Dunya.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “O Allah, make me content with what you have provided me, send blessings for me therein, and replace for me every absent thing with something good/better” (Bukhari).
The point of contentment is that we do not have resentment in our heart for the things that have missed us or afflict us. It does not mean that we shouldn’t be ambitious or have big goals but that we should accept things if they don’t go our way. Our limbs carry on doing the work necessary whilst our heart is at peace, free from worry and anxiety.
Narrated ‘Abdullaah ibn Abbas (radhiAllahu ‘anhu): “Once I was riding (on an animal) behind the Prophet ﷺ when he said: ‘Boy, I would like to teach you something. Observe the rights of Allah, He will protect you; observe His rights upon you, and you will find him before you. If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek assistance, seek it from Allah. Know that if all the people get together in order to benefit you with something, they will not be able to benefit you in anything except what Allah has decreed for you. And if they all get together in order to harm you with something, they will not be able to harm you in anything except what Allah has decreed for you. The pens have been raised and (the ink over) the papers (Book of Decrees) have dried.’” (At-Tirmidhi)
Whilst we should be content with the decree of Allah, being satisfied with our efforts and achievements can lead to complacency. It is reported in Al-Tirmidhi that Abu Ayyoob al-Ansaari said “when Allaah granted victory to Islam and the number of its supporters increased. We said to one another in private, and not to the Messenger of Allaah, Our wealth and property have diminished. Allaah has granted victory to Islam and the number of its supporters has increased. We should focus on our wealth and property and try to take care of them. Then Allaah revealed to His Prophet a verse which refuted what we said: “And spend in the Cause of Allaah and do not throw yourselves into destruction” (2:195) So destruction here referred to focusing on wealth and property, and abandoning the struggle to aid Islam.
Benefits of Believing in Qadr
1. It grants its believer the peace of mind and sense of relaxation to know, that which has befallen him, was never meant to pass him by and that which has passed him was never meant to befall him;
2. It gives its believer the will and determination to do righteous deeds and grants him the knowledge of the fact that nothing can harm him or stop him except that which Allah has willed. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Know that everyone will be guided to do that for which he was created. Whoever is meant to be one of the people of happiness will be guided to do the deeds of the people of happiness, and whoever is meant to be one of the people of doom will be guided to do the deeds of the people of doom.” Agreed upon.
3. Teaches its believer not to be arrogant and vain but rather to be modest and humble because he realizes that his actions are created by Allah and that such and such an event occurred, not because he was rich or was given beauty and good lineage but rather because it was the Will of Allah; No calamity befalls the earth or your own selves, but it is (pre-destined) in a Book before We bring it into being, Indeed it is easy for Allah. So that you may neither grieve on what has escaped you, nor over-exult on what He has given to you. And Allah does not love any self-admirer, over-proud (57:22–23)
4. Teaches its believer to do as much as is in his capability and then leave the rest up to Allah, and then to be satisfied with the result as he did as much as his ability permitted him to do so. Improve what you can change and learn to accept what you can’t.
5. No amount of guilt can change the past and no amount of worrying can change the future. Go easy on yourself for the outcome of all affairs is determined by Allah’s Decree.
6. The Prophet ﷺ said “The holy spirit cast into my essence that no soul shall perish until it completes its lifespan and its provision, so fear Allah, and seek it beautifully. And do not let the delay of that provision cause you to seek it through disobeying Allah. For what is with Allah cannot be acquired except through obedience to Him.” (Saheeh Al-Jami) What is written for you will surely come to you, and so when it arrives it can find you as the pure and gracious host who beautified your journey to it with patience and prayer, optimism and good thoughts about Allah, or it can arrive to you finding you jaded, doubtful and broken. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever makes Dunya his preoccupation, then Allah will place his poverty in front of his eyes, make his affairs scattered, and nothing of the Dunya comes to him except that which has been decreed for him, and whoever makes the Hereafter his preoccupation, then Allah places freedom from want in his heart, gathers his affairs, and Dunya (worldly life) comes to him despite being reluctant to do so” (Ibn Majah)
But even the will and ability of man are subject to the will and decree of God.
As Allāh said: ‘But you will not will unless Allāh wills. Allāh is All-Knowing, All-Wise’ and His saying: ‘But you will not will unless Allāh wills, the Lord of all the Worlds.’ In other words, Allāh created their actions, yet they are the ones who decide how to act and thus earn reward or punishment (kasb) based on that decision.
Ali (RA) said that they were once sitting with the Prophet ﷺ when he said: ‘There is not a single one of you except that his seat has been written (already) in paradise or in the hellfire’. They responded: ‘O Messenger of Allāh, shall we not then surrender ourselves to that?’, the Prophet ﷺ answered them: ‘No! Work (i.e. do good deeds), for everyone will be eased towards what he was created for’
His response to their question was to a) affirm that they must strive to do good deeds, and b) what they do will impact directly on how Allāh will guide them and pave a way for them ultimately into paradise. A person should realize that the future is something that is unknown to themselves and all that they can do is to strive to attain the good things and to ward off the bad things.
The believers deal with the things that they like by accepting them and giving thanks for them, and using them in good ways. When they deal with them in this manner, it creates in them a sense of excitement and the hope that it will continue and that they will be rewarded for their gratitude, which is more important than the good things that happen to them. And they deal with bad things, worries and distress by resisting those that they can resist, alleviating those that they can alleviate, and bearing with goodly patience those that they cannot avoid. Thus as a result of the bad things they gain a lot of benefits, experience, strength, patience and hope of reward, which are more important and which diminish the hardships they have undergone and replace them with happiness and hope for the bounty and reward of Allah.
USING QADAR AS AN EXCUSE
Both the Qur’ān, the Sunnah, and sensible reasoning indicate that it is grossly incorrect to use Divine Decree (qadar) as an excuse for committing sins or for failing to adhere to the religion.
The Quraysh of Makkah would cite Divine Decree (Qadar) to argue the case that their beliefs of polytheism were sound. They would say: ‘If Allāh had willed we would not have associated anything with Him, nor would our fathers; nor would we have made anything prohibited.‘ Allāh then stated that such arguments were not novel: ‘In the same way the people before them also lied until they felt Our violent force’, but was in fact a specious argument. He ordered the Prophet: ‘Say: ‘Do you have some knowledge you can produce for us?’; for such a claim requires an evidence from Allāh to validate it, as no-one save Allāh knows what Allāh has decreed. So how then can one claim that Allāh wanted that he commit a sin before he even commits it or that He forced him into doing it? Allāh then concluded the verse: ‘Verily, you follow nothing but guess and you do nothing but lie.’
Shaytan complained and blamed Allah. Whereas Adam accepted his mistake and took responsibility. People blame Allah when they don’t want to take responsibility.
Belief in al-qadar is the real test of the extent of a person’s belief in Allah. It is the true test of how much a person really knows about his Lord and what results from this knowledge of certain and sincere faith in Allah, and His attributes of majesty and perfection. That is because al-qadar raises many questions for the one who gives free rein to his reasoning to try to fully comprehend it. There have been many disputes concerning the issue of al-qadar and many people have engaged in debates and misinterpreted the verses of the Quran that mention it.
Indeed, the enemies of Islam in all eras have provoked confusion in the Muslims’ beliefs by discussing the issue of al-qadar and stirring up doubts about it. So no one can have true and certain faith except the one who knows Allah by His beautiful names and sublime attributes, submitting to His commands with peace of mind and trusting in his Lord. In that case no doubts or specious arguments can find a way into his heart. The human mind cannot independently come to understand al-qadar, because al-qadar is one of the mysteries of Allah in His creation; whatever Allah has disclosed to us in His Book or on the lips of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) we know, accept and believe.
A person should only be concerned with cultivating goodness and refusing to adopt pathways leading to harm in the future whilst surrendering to Allah’s all-encompassing knowledge and wisdom.
May Allah make us comfortable with His decree and confident in the plan He has for us.
