Lesson 14 : Believing in the Qadar

Allah, ta^ala, said in the Qur’an:

إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ

Inna kulla shay’in khalaqnahu biqadar

Ayah 49 of Suratul-Qamar means: {Allah creates everything according to His Destining.}

The Prophet, sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam, said:

اْلإِيمَانُ أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ

Which means: “Belief is to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and to believe in the qadar (destiny), both the good and the evil.” (Related by Muslim.)

In the past lessons, we have discussed some of what was mentioned in this hadith. This information is among what the Prophet taught us. It is obligatory that we believe in these teachings.

Believing in the qadar (good and evil) means: to believe that everything that comes into existence, be it good or evil, is by the Eternal Will of Allah. The good actions of the slave are according to the Will, Love, and Acceptance of Allah.

The evil actions of the slave are according to the Will of Allah, but not His Love or His Acceptance.

Benefit: The Prophet, may Allah raise his rank, said to Ibn ^Abbas, may Allah be pleased with both of them:

وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الأُمَّةَ لَوِ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللهُ لَكَ، وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوكَ لَمْ يَضُرُّوك إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللهُ لَكَ، رُفِعَتِ الأَقْلاَمُ وَجَفَّتِ الصُّحُفُ.

Wa^lam annal-ummata lawijtama^at ^ala ay-yanfa^uka bishay’il-lam yanfa^uka illa bi shay’in qad katabahu-llahu lak. Wa lawijtama^u ^ala ay-yadurruka bishay’il-lam yadurruka illa bi shay’in qad katabahu-llahu ^alayk. Rufi^atil-aqlamu wa jaffatis-suhuf.

Which means: “Know that if the entire nation agree to benefit you with something, they will not benefit you except with what Allah has willed for you. Likewise, if they agree to harm you with something, they will not harm you except with what Allah has willed for you. The Pen has been lifted, and the Tablet has dried.” (Related by at-Tirmidhiyy.)

Questions:

1. State an ayah from the Qur’an that talks about the belief in Qadar (Destining).
2. State a hadith that tells about the belief in qadar (destiny).
3. What does believing in qadar, both good and evil, mean?
4. State a hadith from the Prophet that indicates that Allah is the Creator of both benefit and harm.