Levels of Divine Decree and Fate

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.

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

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).

‘Ubādah ibn As-Sāmit (may Allah be pleased with him) gave his son, al-Walīd, the valuable advice to believe in fate, the good and bad thereof, and explained to him the good consequences of believing in it and the evil consequences of denying it in this world and the next. He supported his advice to his son with the Hadīth of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) that states that Allah has decreed the fates of all creatures and ordered the Pen to write them before these creatures came to existence. Hence, nothing in the universe, until the advent of the Hour, occurs except that it was preordained by Allah.

سنن أبي داود - سليمان بن الأشعث السِّجِسْتاني تحقيق: محمد محيي الدين عبد الحميد: المكتبة العصرية، صيدا - بيروت. سنن الترمذي - محمد بن عيسى ، الترمذي، تحقيق وتعليق: أحمد محمد شاكر ومحمد فؤاد عبد الباقي وإبراهيم عطوة عوض -شركة مكتبة ومطبعة مصطفى البابي الحلبي - مصر - الطبعة: الثانية، 1395 هـ - 1975 م. مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل المحقق: شعيب الأرنؤوط - عادل مرشد، وآخرون إشراف: د عبد الله بن عبد المحسن التركي مؤسسة الرسالة الطبعة: الأولى، 1421 هـ - 2001 م. - الجديد في شرح كتاب التوحيد- محمد بن عبد العزيز السليمان القرعاوي- دارسة وتحقيق: محمد بن أحمد سيد أحمد- مكتبة السوادي، جدة، المملكة العربية السعودية- الطبعة: الخامسة، 1424هـ/2003م. - الملخص في شرح كتاب التوحيد- صالح بن فوزان بن عبد الله الفوزان - دار العاصمة الرياض - الطبعة: الأولى 1422هـ- 2001م. - القول المفيد على كتاب التوحيد- محمد بن صالح بن محمد العثيمين - دار ابن الجوزي، المملكة العربية السعودية- الطبعة: الثانية, محرم 1424هـ. - القدر وما ورد في ذلك من الآثار: عبد الله بن وهب المصري - المحقق: د. عبد العزيز عبد الرحمن العثيم -دار السلطان - مكة المكرمة الطبعة: الأولى، 1406 هـ.

Adam and Mūsa (peace be upon both of them) debated with each other and presented the evidence that support their arguments. This may have happened after Mūsa’s death. Perhaps the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) saw it in a dream, since prophets' dreams are part of the divine revelation. A Muslim has to accept such accounts with submission, as we are not able to know how they really happened. Mūsa said to Adam: "O Adam, you are our father. You did us harm and caused us to get out of Paradise." i.e. you are the reason for our misfortune and misguidance by committing the sin that resulted in getting you out of Paradise. Accordingly, we have become a target for the devils' misguidance. Adam answered him, saying: "O Mūsa, Allah favored you with His talk." Allah, the Almighty, selected Mūsa from among the messengers and honored him by speaking to him without intermediaries and letting him listen to His speech directly. Also, Allah, the Almighty, wrote the Torah for Mūsa with His Hand. A Muslim must believe in this writing without asking how, denying, distorting the wording or the meaning, or resembling Allah to any of His creation. "Do you blame me for an action which Allah had decreed on me forty years before He created me?" i.e. how can you blame me for something that Allah had written for me in the Preserved Tablet and in the pages and tablets of the Torah forty years before I was created? "So Adam confuted Mūsa." i.e. he defeated him with a logical argument. Adam refuted the argument of Mūsa, (peace be upon both of them) by stating that if Allah, the Almighty, knows that Adam will get out of Paradise and descend to earth, then how can he go against Allah’s prior knowledge? Thus, Adam’s proof prevailed, because what was decreed upon him was a matter that could not be changed or avoided. Rather, it was a matter decreed by Allah, the All-Knowing, the Omnipotent, and thus it could not be challenged or undone after its occurrence. He had no choice but to submit to it. Nevertheless, Divine Decree should not be used as a justification for something that has not taken place. This is because man is commanded to obey Allah and avoid sins. Also, he does not know what is preordained for him until it actually takes place. When it takes place, and he cannot stop it, then he can submit to his fate and say: "This is what Allah has preordained, and He does what He wills." He should also ask his Lord to forgive his sin and repent to him. So, Adam clearly refuted the argument of Mūsa when the latter wanted to blame him for being the cause of his offspring's misfortune. Adam argued that this misfortune was preordained and inevitable. A Muslim, in all misfortunes resulting from people's own actions or otherwise, has to show patience and submission. However, this does not absolve the wrongdoer from blame and punishment.

صحيح البخاري، نشر: دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى، 1422ه. صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، نشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت. شرح صحيح البخاري لابن بطال، تحقيق: أبي تميم ياسر بن إبراهيم، نشر: مكتبة الرشد، الرياض-السعودية، الطبعة: الثانية 1423ه، 2003م. عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري، لمحمود بن أحمد بن موسى الحنفى بدر الدين العينى، الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت. المنهاج شرح صحيح مسلم بن الحجاج، للنووي، نشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت، الطبعة: الثانية، 1392ه. شرح كتاب التوحيد من صحيح البخاري، لعبد الله بن محمد الغنيمان، الناشر: مكتبة الدار، المدينة المنورة، الطبعة: الأولى، 1405 هـ.

The Companions (may Allah be pleased with him) were attending the funeral of one of them in the cemetery of the people of Madīnah. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sat among them with a stick in his hand. He lowered his head towards the ground, as if he was thinking deeply and greatly concerned about something. He started to scratch the ground with the stick, then said that Allah, the Almighty, has decreed the fates of people and determined their seats in Paradise and Hell. When the Companions heard that, they said: If the fate of those who will be wretched and those who will be prosperous, those who will be in Paradise and those who will be in Hell, has already been predetermined and decreed, why should we not give up doing good deeds; for exerting effort is useless, given the fact that everything is decreed and predestined? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) answered that they should work hard and not rely upon the good and evil which Allah has predestined. Instead, they have to do what they are commanded to do, and refrain from what they are forbidden from doing. Indeed, Paradise and Hell are attained by people's deeds; those who do the deeds of the people of Paradise shall enter Paradise, and those who do the deeds of the people of Hell shall enter Hell. Everyone will find it easy to do such deeds that lead him to what he was created for, be it good or evil. Therefore, whoever is decreed to be among the prosperous, Allah will lead him to do the deeds of the prosperous, and whoever is decreed to be among the wretched, Allah will lead him to do the deeds of the wretched.

نزهة المتقين، تأليف: مصطفى الخن وآخرون، الناشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة الأولى: 1397هـ الطبعة الرابعة عشر 1407هـ. كنوز رياض الصالحين، تأليف: حمد بن ناصر بن العمار، الناشر: دار كنوز أشبيليا، الطبعة الأولى: 1430هـ. بهجة الناظرين، تأليف: سليم بن عيد الهلالي، الناشر: دار ابن الجوزي، سنة النشر: 1418 هـ- 1997م. صحيح مسلم، تأليف: مسلم بن الحجاج النيسابوري، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت. رياض الصالحين، تأليف: محيي الدين يحيى بن شرف النووي، تحقيق: د. ماهر بن ياسين الفحل، الطبعة: الأولى، 1428هـ. صحيح البخاري، تأليف: محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير الناصر، الناشر: دار طوق النجاة الطبعة: الأولى، 1422هـ. دليل الفالحين، تأليف: محمد بن علان، الناشر: دار الكتاب العربي، نسخة الكترونية، لا يوجد بها بيانات نشر. شرح رياض الصالحين، تأليف: محمد بن صالح العثيمين، الناشر: دار الوطن للنشر، الطبعة: 1426هـ. شرح الطيبي على مشكاة المصابيح، تأليف: شرف الدين الحسين بن عبد الله الطيبي، تحقيق: د. عبد الحميد هنداوي، الناشر: مكتبة نزار مصطفى الباز، مكة المكرمة، الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1417 هـ - 1997م. مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح، تأليف: علي بن سلطان القاري، الناشر: دار الفكر، الطبعة: الأولى، 1422هـ.

Meaning of the Hadīth: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) gave the family of Ja‘far ibn Abu Tālib three days as respite after his martyrdom in the battle of Mu'tah. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) wanted his family to feel better during these three days and get over some of the sadness and grief they were experiencing. He then said to them: “Do not weep for my brother after this day”. He forbade them from crying after three days had passed, so that the first shock and the sad times would not remain for long. The prohibition here is not a strict one, because it is permissible to weep for the dead even beyond the three days as long as weeping does not involve any forbidden act. He then said: “Call my brother’s sons for me.” They were Muhammad, ‘Abdullāh, and ‘Awf - children of Ja‘far. ‘Abdullāh said: "We were then brought to the Messenger of Allah as if we were little chicks" referring to the miserable state they were in due to their father’s death. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) asked for a barber and ordered him to shave their heads. The reason why the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) ordered for their heads to be shaved was that he saw their mother, Asmā' bint ‘Umays (may Allah be pleased with her) so overwhelmed by the calamity of having her husband killed in the cause of Allah, and thus she could not brush her children's hair. He feared that their heads would become dirty or infested with lice, so he ordered for their heads to be shaved. Removing the hair was good for the children and was a source of comfort for the mother who was afflicted with something that made her too busy to take care of her sons' hair. It should be noted that it is not permissible for the Muslim to shave one’s head due to the affliction of a calamity. It was reported in a Hadīth: "The Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the woman who wails, shaves her head, or tears up her clothes (when stricken by a calamity)." Heads of Ja‘far's sons were not shaved due to their father's death; rather, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did so because their mother was too busy to take care of their hair. Fearing that their heads would be louse-infested, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered their heads to be shaved. So, it had nothing to do with the calamity.

نزهة المتقين، تأليف: جمعٌ من المشايخ، الناشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة الأولى: 1397 هـ الطبعة الرابعة عشر 1407 هـ بهجة الناظرين، تأليف: سليم بن عيد الهلالي، الناشر: دار ابن الجوزي ، سنة النشر: 1418 هـ- 1997م سنن أبي داود، تأليف: سليمان بن الأشعث السِّجِسْتاني، تحقيق: محمد محيي الدين عبد الحميد، الناشر: المكتبة العصرية، صيدا. السنن الكبرى، تأليف: أحمد بن شعيب النسائي، تحقيق: حسن عبد المنعم شلبي، الناشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة: الأولى، 1421 هـ رياض الصالحين، تأليف : محيي الدين يحيى بن شرف النووي ، تحقيق: د. ماهر بن ياسين الفحل ، الطبعة: الأولى، 1428 هـ شرح رياض الصالحين، تأليف: محمد بن صالح العثيمين، الناشر: دار الوطن للنشر، الطبعة: 1426 هـ عون المعبود شرح سنن أبي داود، تأليف: محمد شمس الحق العظيم آبادي، الناشر: دار الكتب العلمية، الطبعة: الثانية، 1415 هـ مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل-المحقق: شعيب الأرنؤوط - عادل مرشد، وآخرون-إشراف: د عبد الله بن عبد المحسن التركي الناشر: مؤسسة الرسالة-الطبعة: الأولى، 1421 هـ - 2001 م مشكاة المصابيح، تأليف: محمد بن عبد الله، التبريزي، تحقيق : محمد ناصر الدين الألباني، الناشر: المكتب الإسلامي، الطبعة: الثالثة، 1985م شرح سنن أبي داود، تأليف: عبد المحسن بن حمد بن عبد المحسن العباد، نسخة الإلكترونية.

An-Nu‘mān ibn Bashīr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that ‘Abdullāh ibn Rawāhah (may Allah be pleased with him) fell down unconscious because he was too sick. When his sister, (may Allah be pleased with her) saw him in that state, she thought that he had died. Therefore, she started crying and said: "O my mountain!" By this she meant that for her he was like a mountain in which she sought refuge from adversities. She counted his good qualities the way people used to do in the pre-Islamic era. When he came to his senses, he told her what had happened to him. It was said to him, "Are you a mountain that people seek refuge in? Are you the same as they describe you?" Everything that his sister mentioned during his fit, he was questioned about it out of sarcasm and severe threat. In another narration, it was mentioned that when Ibn Rawāhah died, his sister had learnt the lesson and, therefore, did not mourn him that way.

- صحيح البخاري –الجامع الصحيح-؛ للإمام أبي عبد الله محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري، عناية محمد زهير الناصر، دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ. - كنوز رياض الصالحين،لحمد بن ناصر العمار، دار كنوز إشبيليا- الطبعة الأولى1430ه. - شرح رياض الصالحين؛ للشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مدار الوطن، الرياض، 1426هـ. - فتح الباري شرح صحيح البخاري- أحمد بن علي بن حجر العسقلاني الشافعي- دار المعرفة - بيروت،رقم كتبه وأبوابه وأحاديثه: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي- قام بإخراجه وصححه وأشرف على طبعه: محب الدين الخطيب- عليه تعليقات العلامة: عبد العزيز بن عبد الله بن باز. - عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري/بدر الدين العينى -دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت-بدون تاريخ. - دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين؛ لمحمد بن علان الشافعي،تحقيق خليل مأمون شيحا-دار المعرفة-بيروت-الطبعة الرابعة1425ه. - بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف سليم الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي- الطبعة الأولى1418ه - نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف د. مصطفى الخِن وغيره، مؤسسة الرسالة-بيروت، الطبعة الرابعة عشرة، 1407هـ.

This Hadīth clarifies that Allah, the Almighty, created the creation in darkness and cast some of His light upon them. Those whom the light fell upon are the ones guided to the way to Paradise, and those whom the light missed are the ones who strayed from the way of truth. Guidance and misguidance are in total agreement with Allah's prior knowledge. That which has been decided eternally cannot change or be altered, and the expression about the drying of the ink of the pen indicates this fact.

سنن الترمذي، نشر: شركة مكتبة ومطبعة مصطفى البابي الحلبي – مصر، الطبعة: الثانية، 1395هـ - 1975م. مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل، تحقيق: شعيب الأرنؤوط - عادل مرشد، وآخرون، نشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة: الأولى، 1421هـ - 2001م. صحيح الجامع الصغير وزياداته، للألباني، نشر: المكتب الإسلامي. تحفة الأحوذي بشرح جامع الترمذي- أبو العلا محمد عبد الرحمن المباركفورى -الناشر: دار الكتب العلمية - بيروت. فقه الأسماء الحسنى -عبد الرزاق العباد -دارالتوحيد -الرياض.

Ibn Mas‘ūd reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) related to us, and he is the truthful one in his speech, and the trusted one, as Allah Almighty endorsed him. He said: The creation of each one of you is brought together. When a man copulates with his wife, his scattered semen is brought together in the woman's womb as a sperm-drop for forty days. Then, he becomes a clinging clot for another forty days. Then, he becomes a lump, which is a piece of chewable flesh, for a third period of forty days. Then, Allah sends to him the angel, who breathes life into him after the end of the third period. The angel is commanded to write four things: his sustenance, which is the amount of bliss he will gain during his lifetime; his lifespan, which is the duration of his stay in this world; and his deeds, as to what they will be; and whether he will be miserable or happy. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) swore that a person might perform the righteous deeds of the people of Paradise, as they outwardly seem, and he continues in this state until there is only an arm's length (a cubit) between him and Paradise; that is, only a cubit separates him from reaching Paradise. But then destiny overtakes him, and thereupon he performs the deeds of the people of Hellfire, and they become his last deeds, and so he enters Hellfire. This is because it is required for a person's virtuous deeds to be accepted and that he continues to do them and not change course. There is another type of people, who perform the deeds of the people of Hellfire until they are close to entering it, as if only a cubit is separating between them. But then destiny overtakes them, and they begin to perform the deeds of Paradise, and they enter it.

1. The outcome of things goes in the course determined by divine decree and predestination.
2. The Hadīth warns us of getting deceived by the appearance of deeds, for deeds are only judged by their endings.

صحيح البخاري (9/ 135) (7454)، (4/ 111) (3208)، صحيح مسلم (4/ 2036) (2643)، عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري (15/ 130)، شرح الأربعين النووية للعثيمين (ص: 84).