The Qadar

Q. We understand from Allahs قهر (subdual and overpowering) that no one can escape Allahs command; everything He wills will happen, and everything He does not will will not happen. Does this mean that we are compelled to take actions? 

A. Allah said in [18:29]: 

"And say: "The truth is from your Lord." Then whosoever wills, let him believe, and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve...."

And in [91:7-10]:

"And by Nafs (Adam or a person or a soul, etc.), and Him Who perfected him in proportion;"

"Then He showed him what is wrong for him and what is right for him;"

"Indeed he succeeds who purifies his ownself (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allah ordered, by following the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds)."

"And indeed he fails who corrupts his ownself (i.e. disobeys what Allah has ordered by rejecting the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism or by following polytheism, etc. or by doing every kind of evil wicked deeds)."

These verses prove that we are not compelled to perform actions. Allah created us, and showed us the truth;- the way to Paradise and the way to Hellfire. It's upon us to decide which way we follow. 

Allah gave us a mind, heart, senses, sound disposition, and didn't give that all to us in vain. He gave it so that we would think, decide, and take actions.

How then do we reconcile between not being compelled to take actions and Allahs قهر? 

In order to understand that, we need to understand the Qadar.

#1 - Nothing occurs in the Universe independant of the Will of Allah. Everything occurs by His knowledge and permission.

#2 - All these decrees have already been decreed 50,000 years before the creation of the heavens and earth and are unavoidable. We have no part in it, except that we are tested by them.

There are four ranks to Qadar:- (Knowledge, Writing, Will, Creation)

- علم (Knowledge)

Allah knows about everything in detail. He knew in advance what would happen until the establishment of the Day of Judgement. He knows who will be in Hell and who will be in Paradise. He knows that when such-and-such event happens to you, you will act in the way you do. His knowledge is perfect.

In [34:3]:

"Those who disbelieve say: "The Hour will not come to us." Say: "Yes, by my Lord, it will come to you." (Allah, He is) the AllKnower of the unseen, not even the weight of an atom (or a small ant) or less than that or greater, escapes from His Knowledge in the heavens or in the earth, but it is in a Clear Book (AlLauh AlMahfuth)" 

- كتابة (Writing) 

Allah wrote everything He knew was going to happen in The Preserved Tablet. This writing is based on His perfect knowledge.

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Allah had written the ordained measures (and due proportions) of the creation, fifty thousand years before the creation of the heavens and the earth, and his Throne was on the water" [Muslim] 

And he ﷺ said, "The first thing Allah created was the pen. He said to it: Write. It asked: What should I write, my Lord? He said: Write what was decreed about everything till the Last Hour comes." [Tirmithi] 

In [22:70]:

"Know you not that Allah knows all that is in heaven and on earth? Verily, it is (all) in the Book (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuth). Verily! That is easy for Allah."

These are Qadar.

Whatever happens now is by Allah's مشيئة (Will). This is where you see عزة القهر. No one can prevent what Allah wrote from happening now. We are overpowered with the Qadar. What happens of Allah's Will is unavoidable, and is considered a test for us. 

In [81:29]:

"And you will not, unless (it be) that Allah wills, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)."

Where is our part in this? الخلق - Allah created in us the ability to take an action. 

In [37:96]:

"While Allah created you and that which you do?"

Allah created in us the ability and strength to take an action; to respond to the test. We are responsible for our response to this test; whether we answer correctly (by performing an action which is pleasing to Allah) or incorrectly (taking an action displeasing to Allah). You either pass or fail this test with Allah. 

Examples of Qadar and our response to it 

E.g. Allah decreed that you are unable to have children.

Here is where your action comes in. You could be the person who accepts Allah's Qadar, and is pleased with what Allah has written for you. You passed the test. 

You could be the person who wonders why everyone has children except you. You aren't satisfied or pleased with Allah's Qadar. You become angry with Allah. You failed the test.

It is your actions that determine your success or failure. Keep in mind that actions aren't restricted to limbs, they are with the heart and tongue as well.

E.g. Allah straightens provision for some people in order to make them upright. They don't understand why they don't get what they want. He knows that if they were given more than that, they would transgress and commit sins. 

Many times we don't explain the Qadar, the actions of Allah to us, correctly. And Allah, out of His mercy, repeats the Qadar again and again so that we will succeed. We wonder why the same situation is repeated. It's because you didn't pass that test yet.

E.g. Someone is afflicted with an undutiful son. This is Qadar. What is the right attitude to have? The person is patient, waits for the relief, has hope that Allah will one day guide her son, maybe this is an expiation for her sin of being undutiful to her parents, etc. She focuses on herself. If her parents are alive, she is dutiful to them, and if they are dead, she prays for them, etc. hoping that this action of hers will be a cause of her son to being guided. Because dutifulness to parents comprise of the right of Allah and the right of the parents. During the affliction, Allah's right will be dropped and expiated due to it, but the rights of the parents remain.

E.g. An earthquake happened in a country. Both the disbelievers and believers died. Allah made you hear about this. Why did He make you hear and see this matter? It means you are now under a test; will you pass or fail? 

The attitude of the one who fails: It's not fair. Allah isn't just. The disbelievers deserve it, but what about the believers? This is thinking bad about Allah.

The attitude of the one who passes: On the Day of Judgement Allah will resurrect everyone in the state they died, whether they died in the state of ايمان or disbelief. Allah will be fair with them.

E.g. Someone spread rumours about you. What is the correct attitude for you to have? Know that this harm is an expiation of your sins, show patience, pray for them, know that it's a test for you - will you hold back your tongue from replying or not? Don't think about the people, focus on yourself. 

Allah said in [22:38]:

"Truly, Allah defends those who believe. Verily! Allah likes not any treacherous ingrate to Allah [those who disobey Allah but obey Shaitan (Satan)]." 

Believe that Allah will take care of them and defend you.

E.g. A lady had all her children married, and now she's alone in the house. She feels lonely. This is a Qadar. Most people sink into depression, complain all the time, blame their in-laws, etc. The person who passes this test, however, rejoices because Allah freed her of all her responsibilities so that she has more time to dedicate for her hereafter. 

E.g. You are running a center or class for teaching Islam. Allah made you to hear about another center. This is a test.

The incorrect attitude: Jealousy, competition. 

The correct attitude: Happiness because Islamic centers are increasing and more people are becoming aware of Islam.

E.g. Allah wrote that you will go through a financial problem. This happens by Allah's will and you have no choice. It's a test.

You will either think good of Allah, know that through It, He wants to forgive your sins, increase you in reward, etc. You passed the test.

Or you will either wonder why problems always happen to you even though you pray and do good. You begin to think ill of Allah. You've failed the test.

Many times we blame Allah and ascribe purity to ourselves, not realizing that Allah afflicts us in order to expiate our previous sins. 

In [57:22]:

"No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz), before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah."

And the Prophet ﷺ said, 

"أعلم أن ما أخطأك لم يكن ليصيبك

و ما أصابك لم يكن ليخطئك" 

"Know that what missed you could not have hit you, and what hit you could not have missed you."

But it doesn't end there. The next Qadar that comes will come based on your response; depending on whether you passed or failed.

Let's say you passed the test. Allah will put contentment in your heart and you will become pleased with Allah, even if you still have problems.

But the person who failed will feel more constriction, less hope, get angrier, and even more discontent. 

Evidence: 

In [64:11]: 

"No calamity befalls, but with the Leave [i.e. decision and Qadar (Divine Preordainments)] of Allah, and whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart [to the true Faith with certainty, i.e. what has befallen him was already written for him by Allah from the Qadar (Divine Preordainments)], and Allah is the All-Knower of everything." 

"و من يؤمن بالله" 

This person believes that the calamity is from Allah, that He is testing his faith to see if he really believes in Allah's wisdom, mercy, etc. He knows that Allah isn't testing him or putting him through problematic situations in vain or to torture him. Even if he can't see the wisdom behind the situation now, He knows that Allah is All-Wise. So he shows patience, hoping that Allah will reward him and makes his scale heavy on the Day of Judgement. 

What is the result? "يهد قلبه"

Allah will make this persons heart good. He will feel at rest, content with Allah, tranquility. This is the result of His belief. 

You didn't have a choice in the first Qadar, but when you responded correctly, this was the result. You caused this to happen to yourself.

In [14:7]:

"And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: "If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allah), I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily! My Punishment is indeed severe.""

Allah gave us blessings.

If your response to this blessing was gratitude, and you use it in obedience to Allah, the next Qadar will be that Allah will give you more of His blessings.

The opposite case: A calamity befell another person, and he disbelieved in Allah. He started to doubt, wonder why he was going through this punishment, that he doesn't deserve it, and that Allah is oppressing him, etc. He thinks bad about Allah, and is discontent with what is happening, nor does he show patience.

This persons heart will not be guided. He will increase in confusion, doubt, distress, unhappiness. this was the result of his answer. If you are ungrateful, accordingly the next Qadar, will be punishment. This punishment is because of your response to the test. Allah is not unjust to His slaves.

Whenever anything befalls you, sit down, check and analyze the situation. Perhaps you didn't respond to the first Qadar correctly, and it's due to that you are suffering. Don't accuse people or Allah. What's happening to me is because of me. 

Allah already knew beforehand what you would choose and what would happen, and He has written it all in The Preserved Tablet. 

E.g. The People of Saba 

Allah granted the people of Saba many blessings. He gave them two gardens which brought forth different kinds of fruits, vegetables, big reservoirs of water to water these gardens, and made it easy for them to travel. He willed these blessings as a test.

What was their response to this Qadar? They showed ingratitude. They didn't thank Allah, and felt bored with the blessings. And this boredom is ingratitude,

They failed with Allah, and because of this, the next Qadar Allah decreed for them was that the dam was destroyed, their gardens of fruits became gardens of thorny trees, and Allah scattered them all over the Arabian peninsula. Allah removed their blessings as a result of their failure with Allah. And this Qadar is out of Allah's قهر. They caused this Qadar to befall on then, but it occurred by Allah's power. They neither chose it nor were able to repel it. 

Q. Does crying negate and pleasure and contentment with Allah's decree?  

A. When the Prophets son, Ibrahim, passed away, he shed tears. Abdur-Rahman Ibn Auf said, "You are weeping O Messenger of Allah" He replied, "Ibn Auf, this is mercy," and then said:

"إن العين تدمع، وإن القلب يحزن، ولا نقول إلا ما يرضي ربنا وإنا بفراقك يا إبراهيم لمحزونون"

"Our eyes shed tears and our hearts are filled with grief, but we do not say anything except that by which Allah is pleased. O, Ibrahim we are sorrowful due to your separation."

You aren't blamed for missing whoever you are separated from, or from feeling sad, and weeping. This is natural grief. But be content and know that there is good in what Allah had decreed for you. Don't grieve or feel regret over what has passed or already occurred. Deal with what has happened according to the situation. 

E.g. Someone committed a lot of sins in the past. He can't bring back the past and change the situation. He shouldn't feel doomed, think that the gate of forgiveness is closed for him, and despair of Allah's mercy. 

He should instead repent, ask Allah to forgive him,be grateful that Allah showed him his sin before he died, and if he transgressed against someone he should give back their rights as much as he can.

E.g. A person transgressed against his family. He didn't raise his children in the right way and now he's suffering, He has to ask Allah's forgiveness for his shortcoming, make دعاء, and ask Allah to reform and guide his children, have hope in Allah that the situation will change one day by Allah's will, and wait for the relief. These are all considered acts of worship. If you show truthfulness, Allah could change the situation in a day or night without you doing anything except dua. Don't despair and feel depressed. What happened happened, and it was Qadar. Answer the test correctly now, and ask Allah to help you and make your life better. 

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"الْمُؤْمِنُ الْقَوِيُّ خَيْرٌ وَأَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ الضَّعِيفِ وَفِي كُلٍّ خَيْرٌ احْرِصْ عَلَى مَا يَنْفَعُكَ وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ وَلاَ تَعْجِزْ فَإِنْ أَصَابَكَ شَىْءٌ فَلاَ تَقُلْ لَوْ أَنِّي فَعَلْتُ كَذَا وَكَذَا . وَلَكِنْ قُلْ قَدَّرَ اللَّهُ وَمَا شَاءَ فَعَلَ فَإِنَّ " لَوْ " تَفْتَحُ عَمَلَ الشَّيْطَانِ"

"The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive for that which will benefit you, seek the help of Allah, and do not feel helpless. If anything befalls you, do not say, "if only I had done such and such" rather say "Qaddara Allahu wa ma sha'a fa'ala (Allah has decreed and whatever he wills, He does)." For (saying) 'If' opens (the door) to the deeds of Satan.'" [Ibn Majah] 

In a nutshell: 

-> Whatever happens to us of decrees can't be repelled because it happens by Allah's عزة القهر. We have no choice in it. And it's considered a test for us.

-> We have a choice in our response to this test.

-> The next Qadar that befalls you will come according to your failure or success.

E.g. Allah gave the people of Saba blessings -> They responded with ingratitude -> Allah destroyed their blessings.

-> We need to watch our thoughts, statements, behavior, actions because it's according to this that the next Qadar will come; either in your favour, or against you.