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Qadar

Read published English translations and explanations on this topic. These are related source narrations; their wording and selection may differ from the Arabic site’s short selections. Every card identifies its own source.

Narrated by MuslimAuthentic

Allah decreed the destinies of the creatures fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth

Narrator in the source: ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas reported that the Prophet

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Allah decreed the destinies of the creatures fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth." He said: "when His Throne was upon the water.”
Grade in the source
Authentic
Reported by
Narrated by Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ رضي الله عنهما قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «كَتَبَ اللهُ مَقَادِيرَ الْخَلَائِقِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِخَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ، قَالَ: وَعَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ».
Understand this hadith

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says that Allah decreed the future destinies of the creatures in detail, including life, death, sustenance, and so on in the Preserved Tablet fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth - and these will take place according to Allah's decree. Everything that comes into being, is so according to Allah's decree and predestination. So, whatever befalls a person would not have missed him, and whatever misses him would not have befallen him.

Lessons from the hadith
  • It is obligatory to believe in the divine decree and predestination.
  • Predestination refers to Allah's knowledge of things and that He writes down, wills, and creates them.
  • The belief that destinies were written before the creation of the heavens and the earth yields contentment and submission.
  • The Throne of the Most Compassionate was above the water before creating the heavens and the earth.
References (original Arabic)

صحيح مسلم (4/ 2044) (2653)، إكمال المعلم (8/141)، البحر المحيط الثجاج (41/450).

Narrated by MuslimAuthentic

Everything is decreed, even incapacity and capacity, or capacity and incapacity

Narrator in the source: Tāwūs reported: I found some of the Prophet's Companions say: "Everything is decreed." I heard ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar say: The Messenger of Allah

Tāwūs reported: I found some of the Prophet's Companions say: "Everything is decreed." I heard ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar say: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Everything is decreed, even incapacity and capacity, or capacity and incapacity."
Grade in the source
Authentic
Reported by
Narrated by Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ طَاوُسٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: أَدْرَكْتُ نَاسًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، يَقُولُونَ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ بِقَدَرٍ، قَالَ: وَسَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنهما يَقُولُ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «كُلُّ شَيْءٍ بِقَدَرٍ، حَتَّى الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَيْسِ، أَوِ الْكَيْسِ وَالْعَجْزِ».
Understand this hadith

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that everything is decreed, even incapacity, which is failure to do what should be done - in matters of this world and the Hereafter - and procrastinating and delaying it beyond its due time; and even capacity, which is vigor and proficiency in matters of worldly life and the Hereafter; and that Allah Almighty had predestined capacity and incapacity, and everything that happens in the universe had already been known and willed by Allah.

Lessons from the hadith
  • The Hadīth demonstrates the Companions' belief in predestination.
  • Everything happens by Allah's predestination, even people's incapacity and vigor.
  • The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were cautious and meticulous in conveying the Prophet's Hadīths.
  • We should believe in all predestination, including its pleasant and unpleasant aspects.
References (original Arabic)

صحيح مسلم (4/ 2045) (2655)، إكمال المعلم (8/143)، شرح النووي على مسلم (16/205)، الفتح الرباني لترتيب مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل الشيباني (1/ 122).

Narrated by MuslimAuthentic

The strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than the weak believer, and there is good in both

Narrator in the source: Abu Hurayrah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah say:

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than the weak believer, and there is good in both. Adhere to whatever brings you benefit, seek the help of Allah, and do not feel helpless. If something befalls you, do not say: 'Had I done such-and-such, it would have been such-and-such;' rather, say: 'Allah has decreed, and whatever He wills, He does.' Indeed, 'if' opens the way before the devil to act."
Grade in the source
Authentic
Reported by
Narrated by Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْمُؤْمِنُ الْقَوِيُّ، خَيْرٌ وَأَحَبُّ إِلَى اللهِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ الضَّعِيفِ، وَفِي كُلٍّ خَيْرٌ، احْرِصْ عَلَى مَا يَنْفَعُكَ، وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللهِ وَلَا تَعْجَزْ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَكَ شَيْءٌ، فَلَا تَقُلْ لَوْ أَنِّي فَعَلْتُ كَانَ كَذَا وَكَذَا، وَلَكِنْ قُلْ قَدَرُ اللهِ وَمَا شَاءَ فَعَلَ، فَإِنَّ (لَوْ) تَفْتَحُ عَمَلَ الشَّيْطَانِ».
Understand this hadith

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarifies that the believer is good from all aspects; however, the believer who is strong in his faith, resolve, property, and other aspects of strength is better and dearer to Allah Almighty than the weak believer. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) advised the believer to utilize the available means in what brings him benefit in his worldly affairs and the affairs of the Hereafter, along with depending upon Allah Almighty, seeking His help, and relying upon Him. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), then, forbids inability, indolence, and slackness in doing what brings benefit in both abodes. If the believer works hard and utilizes the available means while seeking Allah's help and asking Him for goodness, then he should do nothing but entrust all of his affairs to Allah while knowing that Allah's choice is the best. If some calamity befalls him after that, he should not say: "Had I done such-and-such, it would have been such-and-such." "Indeed, 'if' opens the way before the devil to act" in objecting to the divine decree and lamenting what has been missed. Instead, one should submissively and contentedly say: "Allah has decreed, and whatever He wills, He does." Everything happens in compliance with Allah's will, as He does what He wants and nothing can repel His predestination or reverse His decree.

Lessons from the hadith
  • People vary in faith.
  • Strength in deeds is recommended because it results in benefits that cannot be attained through weakness.
  • Man must adhere to what brings him benefit and avoid what brings him no benefit.
  • The believer must seek help from Allah in all his affairs and not depend on himself.
  • Establishing the divine decree and predestination and the fact that it does not contradict the pursuit of means and the endeavor to achieve good things.
  • It is prohibited to say "if" during calamities by way of indignation or objection to Allah's decree and predestination.
References (original Arabic)

صحيح مسلم (4/ 2052) (2664). توضيح الأحكام من بلوغ المرام، لعبد الله البسام (7/ 492). منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، لعبد الله الفوزان (10/ 338). فتح ذي الجلال والإكرام، لابن عثيمين (6/ 430).

Narrated by At-TirmidhiAuthentic

O boy, I shall teach you some words: Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him before you. If you ask, ask Allah; if you seek help, seek help from Allah

Narrator in the source: Ibn ‘Abbās

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: One day, I was riding behind the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and he said: "O boy, I shall teach you some words: Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him before you. If you ask, ask Allah; if you seek help, seek help from Allah. And know that if the Ummah were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allah had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allah had already prescribed against you. The pens have been lifted, and the scrolls have dried."
Grade in the source
Authentic
Reported by
Narrated by At-Tirmidhi
Original Arabic wording
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: كُنْتُ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمًا، فَقَالَ: «يَا غُلَامُ، إِنِّي أُعَلِّمُكَ كَلِمَاتٍ، احْفَظِ اللهَ يَحْفَظْكَ، احْفَظِ اللهَ تَجِدْهُ تُجَاهَكَ، إِذَا سَأَلْتَ فَاسْأَلِ اللهَ، وَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْتَ فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللهِ، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْأُمَّةَ لَوِ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوكَ بِشَيْءٍ، لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ إِلَّا بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللهُ لَكَ، وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوكَ بِشَيْءٍ، لَمْ يَضُرُّوكَ إِلَّا بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللهُ عَلَيْكَ، رُفِعَتِ الْأَقْلَامُ وَجَفَّتِ الصُّحُفُ».
Understand this hadith

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that one day, as a boy, he was riding behind the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and he said to him: I will teach you things by which Allah will benefit you: Be mindful of Allah by observing His commands and prohibitions so He will find you engaged in the acts of worship and piety and not find you committing sins and misdeeds. If you do so, your recompense will be that Allah will protect you from unpleasant things in this world and the Hereafter and support you in your endeavors wherever you go. If you want to ask for something, do not ask anyone but Allah, for He alone responds to those who ask. And if you need help, do not seek help except from Allah. And you should be certain that no benefit will come to you, even if all the earth's inhabitants were to gather together to bring it to you, except if Allah had predestined it for you. No harm will happen to you, even if all the inhabitants of the earth were to gather together to cause it to you, except if Allah had predestined it for you. And that Allah Almighty had written and predestined this matter according to His wisdom and knowledge, and whatever Allah had written cannot be changed.

Lessons from the hadith
  • The Hadīth shows the significance of teaching children the religious matters of monotheism, ethics, and so on.
  • Recompense is of the same type as one's deed.
  • We are required to trust and rely upon Allah Almighty alone. He is the best Disposer of affairs.
  • We are required to believe in and be content with the divine decree and predestination and that Allah has predestined everything.
  • Whoever neglects the commands of Allah, Allah will abandon him and will not protect him.
References (original Arabic)

سنن الترمذي (4/ 284) (2516). التحفة الربانية في شرح الأربعين حديثًا النووية (ص42). شرح الأربعين النووية، لابن عثيمين (ص200). فتح القوي المتين في شرح الأربعين وتتمة الخمسين، للعباد (ص69).

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