All thanks and praises are due to the Almighty Allah, Lord of the worlds. May His Peace and Blessings be upon the last Messenger, Habibi Muhammad, his family members, his companions and all those who follow his guided path till the Day of Judgement.
Have you ever thought of why you were born to your family? Why you were born into a rich family while someone else was born into an educated family and another into a poor or illiterate family. Haven’t you heard of a family that has 20 deafs and mutes among its members?! Do things like these happen coincidentally, by chance, by luck or by the choices of the respective individuals involved?
Have you ever thought about why do things happen? People make money from a particular profession while others lose in the same profession. People die from flu daily, but many do survive. Careful drivers run into road accidents and (some) careless drivers might have never encountered an accident. Careless drivers who cause accidents do survive and the innocent (drivers and/or passengers) are the casualties. Why do things happen this way?
What about the two children from the same (rich/educated) family in which one chose to go to school and the other opted to drop out of school? Is that too coincidental?
Have you ever thought about how/why that ‘stupid' person makes lots of money despite been such,' and this very ‘smart' person struggles in order to make cents and francs, although been ‘smart' and perhaps, genius?
A teenager (from Thailand) survived when she was run over by a train (in Singapore), whereby a cyclist (42 years) died when he hit a pedestrian; he fell to his death.
I strongly believe, that questions like these very often do trigger lots of thoughts in our minds, but finding the right answers to them has never been easy. The issue of “Qaḍā' wa Qadar” has engaged scholars of all times but they came out with no satisfactory answers to suit human understanding. It is reported that Ibn Abbas, radhiya Allahu ‘anhu, said:
“Qadar’ is a secret of Allah, High and Exalted is He.”
I wonder if anyone can break the code to a secret that is meant to be known only by Allah, subhanahu wata'aalaa.
In Islam, believing in ‘Qaḍā’ wa ‘Qadar’ is essential, as it is the sixth pillar of ‘Iman’. Hence, one has to believe in it in order to be/remain a Muslim.
The question that poses itself is: What is ‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar’?
What is Qaḍā' wa Qadar?
Google Translate translates ‘Qaḍā” wa Qadar’ (القضاء والقدر) as “Fate and Destiny”.
Al-Mawrid (Arabic-English) dictionary translates ‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar' as fatalism, determinism, necessitarianism for ‘Qaḍa” (القضاء) and fate, destiny, lot; predestination for ‘Qadar' (القدر) .
According to Collins COBUILD Dictionary on CD 2006, “Fate is a power that some people believe controls and decides everything that happens, in a way that cannot be prevented or changed.”, “Destiny is the force which some people believe controls the things that happen to you in your life.” and “Determinism is the belief that all actions and events result from other actions, events, or situations, so people cannot in fact choose what to do.”
Upon referring to Arabic dictionaries and references for definitions, some scholars define ‘Qaḍā'’ and ‘Qadar’ as synonyms and hence both terms mean the same. Others differentiate between ‘Qaḍā'’ and ‘Qadar’. I prefer to latter.
Based on the second thought (of definition), ‘Qaḍā'’ is Allah’s creation of (all) things (that are already created or meant to be created) according to His Knowledge and Will. Whereby, ‘Qadar’ is Allah’s knowledge of creatures’ destiny in (the) future.
Example of ‘Qaḍa'’ is when one is put in a situation in which he has no choice, like been born in/to a particular family or society.
Example of ‘Qadar’ as a result of one’s action, be it good or bad. For instance, when you choose to work and make money, the amount of money you will make is what Allah has predetermined for you. So the outcome of that work is referred to as ‘Qadar‘. When you choose to seek knowledge, the amount of knowledge you gain is ‘Qadar’. This is so because someone who started working together with you (also to make money) is either richer or less rich than you are. Someone might have also started seeking knowledge together with you, but has bypassed you or is lagging behind you.
Things One Must Know about ‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar’
‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar' is part of the unseen, one does not need to have prior experience to it before he believes in it. Just like one does not physically see Allah, High and Exalted is He, but believes in Him. One has not seen the Angels, but believes in their existence. One is yet to die, but believes in the Hereafter. None of the ‘Ummah’ of Habibi Muhammad (may Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) has seen any of the prophets prior to him, but we (Muslims) do believe in all of them. We believe in all the above mentioned because we are told about them and are required to believe in it.
Believing in ‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar' requires from a Muslim to be aware of the following:
- One must believe in Allah's prior knowledge of all things (before they were created).
- One must believe that ‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar’ are already written in ‘Lauhul Mahfuzh’.
- One must believe in Allah’s Will; and His Power over all creatures.
- One must believe that Allah created all the creatures, and that He is the Ultimate Creator, and anything else is a creature.
Should We then Base on Qaḍā' wa Qadar and Stop Working?
The concept of ‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar’ does not contradict with the concept of ‘tawakkul’ (dependence on Allah), as it does not discourage you from working hard for a living. Islam encourages us to work righteously when Allah, High and Exalted is He, says in Surah Al-Nahl: 97:
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
It means “Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)”.
He also says in Surah Al-Mulk: 15:
هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًا فَامْشُوا فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا مِن رِّزْقِهِ وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
It means “It is He Who has made the earth manageable for you, so traverse you through its tracts and enjoy of the Sustenance which He furnishes: but unto Him is the Resurrection”.
Islam has even advised us to seek medication if one falls sick. It’s reported that The Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s peace and blessing be upon him, said:
ًتَدَاوَوْا يَا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَضَعْ دَاءً إِلا وَضَعَ لَهُ شِفَاءً، إِلا دَاء وَاحِداً: الهَرَم
It means “Seek medical treatment, O slaves of Allah, Allah did not create any disease unless He has (also) created cure for it, except one disease; ageing.” [Bukhari; Ahmad].
He also encouraged us to earn our living through working hard instead of begging when he said:
ًلأَنْ يَحْتَطِبَ أَحَدُكُمْ حُزْمَةً عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ أَحَدا فَيُعْطِيَهُ أَوْ يَمْنَعَه
It means “It is better for one to carry bundle of wood on his back (to make living) than asking someone else (for help), whether he gives him or not” [Bukhari].
He also says:
مَا أَكَلَ أَحَدٌ طَعَاماً قَطُّ خَيْراً مِنْ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْ عَمَلِ يَدِه
It means “One has never eaten food better than that, which was earned from his hand craft” [Bukhari].
One must work hard, do his best, discover his possible potential and utilize them. If in the end, he achieves what he has been aiming for, that is ‘Qadar’ of Allah for him, and so he should be thankful to Allah. If in the end, he was not able to achieve his target, he should accept Allah’s decision; and that is ‘Qadar’ too. Most importantly, he won’t be judged based on the outcome of his action so long as he has followed Allah’s commands carefully and was sincere in what he had carried out.
It is important to eat healthily in order to remain healthy. After eating healthily, how healthy one can be is up to Allah’s decision; it’s predetermined. But if one refuses to eat healthily (because he assumes ‘Qaḍā wa Qadar‘) and falls sick, he bears responsibility of been negligent. However, how serious his sickness can be is up to Allah to decide because that is ‘Qadar‘, too.
A child has to go to school in order to grow intellectually. Unless he has alternative learning programme at home or elsewhere, he will grow up illiterate if he refuses to study or go to school, or if his parents refuses to send him to school (based on ‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar‘), they bear the consequence of being irresponsible. But how intellectual the child can grow up to be is predetermined by ‘Qadar‘ of Allah. Remember the stupid who makes money, as mentioned above?!
Lessons from ‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar’
Sincere belief in ‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar’ will result in the following:
Completion in One ‘Iman’
One has to believe in ‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar’ in order to fulfil the requirement of Iman, which is believing in the six pillars of Iman, and only with that he can remain as a Muslim.
Self-confidence and Bravery
If one believes that final outcomes of deeds are predetermined, that will instill in him self-confidence to take initiatives and move forward; knowing that everything is in the Hands of Allah. Man does not have the ability to harm you until Allah allows it to happen.
Self-Satisfaction
The virtue of understanding and believing in ‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar’ is that it will lead to self-satisfaction or contentment with one’s life in this life as a ‘khalifah fil ardh’.
Contentment and Satisfaction
‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar’ helps to instill patience in one to accept adversities and hardships.
Following means to make a living
Believing in ‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar’ should not stop one from working towards self-improvement or avoiding danger in seeking knowledge, making a living through legal means, seeking medical treatment for illness, taking preventive measures from all forms of dangers.
Conclusion
‘Qaḍā' wa Qadar' requires from us to work the hardest possible within our capacity and capability, and then let Allah decide on the final outcome. Someone may have to sit in his office just to sign documents every few minutes and withdraw a big sum of salary at the end of the month. Imagine if he refuses to sit in his office to carry out this “drawing of his signature”, will he be able to draw that salary?
When you graduated from high school/college/university, although your colleagues and you (of the same cohort) are equally equipped with the same knowledge and skills life survival, I'm certain that each one has gone his way, each one is drawing different amount of salary, each one is enjoying different lifestyle, each one.. each one.. each one…
One Last Thing
One may ask, has Allah already decided people will go to heaven or hel. If so why should we do good deeds in order to go to Heaven or avoid bad deed to escape from the Hell Fire? My humble answer is; Although Allah, High and Exalted is He, has destined the creation of all creatures, Heaven and Hell were certainly destined too, but you and I are given the option to work towards either of the two classes.
إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا
It means, “Verily, We showed him the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful.” [Surah Al-Insan: 3],
Also:
وَهَدَيْنَاهُ النَّجْدَيْنِ
Which means “And we shown him the two ways (good and evil)” [Surah Al-Balad: 9].
So the choice is yours!
Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂
Alhamdilil-laahi rabbil aala miin.
Alhamdulil-laahi rabbil aala miin.