Belief in the Divine Decree (Qadaa') and Pre-Destination (Qadar)

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Belief in the Divine Decree (Qadaa') and Pre-Destination (Qadar)

Mohammad Ashraf Salah Higazy



♦ Belief in the Divine Decree (Qadaa') and Pre-destination (Qadar) means believing that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) knows everything in the universe, including what happens and what will happen until the Day of Judgment, nothing escapes Him. It also means believing that Allah knew the acts of His servants, their provisions, ages, those who will be doomed to Hell, and those who will be admitted to Paradise, even before their creation.


♦ Allah has recorded all these decrees in Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooth (i.e. the Preserved Tablet) fifty thousand years before creation of the heavens and the earth. No senior angel or messenger has access to that Tablet.

♦ Once a woman conceives, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) commands the angels to write down the gender (male or female) of the fetus, its provision, deeds, age, destination (Paradise or Hell), and what he will face in this life (good and evil).

♦ On the Night of Al-Qadr, all Divine Decrees and predestined affairs concerning the year to come, including people’s ages, provisions, etc., are sent down just as Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has recorded in Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooth. On that night, all affairs of the forthcoming year are determined exactly as they had been recorded in Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooth.

♦ Then, Divine Decrees are sent down every day in time to meet their owners, thus Allah honors some people and humiliates others.

♦ We believe that the Will of Allah is decisive and absolutely dominant. Accordingly, what Allah must happen and what He does not will never happen. Allah is invincible. He (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) brings changes to hearts. He guides whomever He wishes by his Bounty and Mercy, and misleads whomever He wishes by His Justice and Wisdom; as He knows who deserves guidance or misguidance.
♦ Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is never questioned about what He does, while people will be questioned.

♦ We believe that everything in the universe, even so tiny as the weight of an atom, is created and absolutely controlled by Allah, in its movement as well as in its stillness.

♦ We believe that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) created mankind and their acts. He endowed them with ability and will in order that they decide and choose their acts.

♦ We believe that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) commanded all mankind to obey Him, promising them the Paradise. He (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) forbad them from disobedience, warning them by Hell-Fire.

♦ And never did He (Subhanahu wa Ta’alal) overload them. So, they were divided into two groups: believers and disbelievers, by their own choice, will and abilities created in them by Allah.

♦ We believe that recompense depends on obedience the Shar' (i.e. Laws of God) and not on pre-destination. Whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall be rewarded, and whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall be punished.

♦ All is well that ends well, and every servant is allowed to what he has been created for, whether happiness in Paradise or misery in Hell-Fire.

♦ Worshipper should fear the consequences of evil ending. He should persevere in asking Allah, humbly, to guide him to the Straight Way. He should always implore for the help of God in performing many acts of obedience, and seek refuge with Allah from disobeying Him. Worshipper is helpless without the Power of Allah.

♦ Believers accept the divine decree and pre-destination of Allah, whether good or bad, in distress and in grace, being sure that nobody can benefit or harm but according to the decree of Allah.

♦ The servant won't feel the sweetness of belief until he knows that whatever befalls him, would never mistaken, and whatever mistaken him, would never befalls him.

♦ In conclusion, I praise Allah and ask Him to admit me and all Muslims into Paradise, and keep me and all Muslims away from Hellfire. Amen.

♦ Peace and Prayers be upon Muhammad (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), his household and his Companions.

♦ Let our final invocation be: Praise be to Allah; the Lord of the 'Alamin (i.e. all mankind, Jinn and all that exists).