Title: The belief of Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa
1The belief of Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah with
regard to Qadar and QaDaa
- Abu AbdirRahman Muhammad Humble
2An introduction to Qadar and QaDaa
- Ibn ul Qayyim said It is a sea with no end to
it, and there is no way out of it for any of
Allahs creation Islamic legislation is the ship
of safety, whoever climbs aboard it is saved, and
whoever leaves it is drowned - We understand from this that the topic is a
dangerous one, and one which many have been
misguided in - We also understand that the only way to be saved
is to follow the Quraan and the Sunnah
3Why learn about this at all?
- If the subject is so dangerous and difficult, why
learn about it at all? - Allah has made it a pillar of our imaan, and we
cannot have true imaan in something without
understanding what we are being asked to believe
in - Learning about Qadar and QaDaa, is of two types
- Sticking strictly to the Quraan and the Sunnah.
This is praiseworthy, otherwise what is the
benefit in these ayaat and ahadeeth? - Any other method. This is blameworthy and takes
many forms. From this is asking Why did Allah
guide this person and not guide this one? and
from this is understanding Qadar according to
intellect and desire - Sometimes not speaking about something leads
people to harbour doubts and mistakes in their
belief, which can easily be removed, if Allah
wills - Allah has praised knowledge, and never praises
ignorance - Atheism thrives on misguidance in Qadar How can
Allah exist when we see so much suffering in the
world? - We sometimes say things that deny Qadar You
dont deserve this! - The salaf set an excellent example for us. They
talked about the correct belief in Qadar and
QaDaa, and they warned about the mistakes of the
misguided
4Qadar and QaDaa in the Arabic language
- QaDaa It has many meanings, all of them centre
around finishing or completing something - Qadar The verbal noun of Qadara Yaqduru meaning
to know the quantity of something and its other
attributes
5Qadar and QaDaa in Islam
- It is said that they both mean the same thing
- It is said that they are from those words which
when they are separate come together, and when
they come together separate - When they are separate both mean the same thing
- When they are together, the scholars who hold
this opinion differed about the difference
between them - It is said that Qadar is the previous knowledge
according to which Allah created all things and
ruled by it from eternity, and that QaDaa refers
to the creation of those things i.e. when Allah
brings them into being. (For example, if someone
died the fact that Allah always knew that they
would die at that time and had decreed that they
would die at that time, would be called Qadar,
and when Allah causes that death to happen, it
would be called QaDaa) - The second opinion is the opposite of the first
- In reality, all of these opinions are simply
ijtihaad from the scholars, and there is no text
to support one opinion over the other - When you look at the Quraan and the Sunnah you
find that the word Qadar occurs more often than
QaDaa
6The ruling of believing in Qadar
- Belief in Qadar is waajib
- Qadar is a pillar of imaan, without which imaan
does not exist - This tells us how important it is for us to
believe in Qadar properly - The texts which we find in the Quraan and Sunnah
about Qadar are of two types - Proof of the existence of Qadar
- Proof that we have to believe in Qadar
7A few proofs of Qadar from the Quraan
- Indeed, all things We created with
predestination Al Qamar 5459 - ...And ever is the command of Allah a destiny
decreed Al-Ahzaab 3338 - Did We not create you from a liquid disdained?
And We placed it in a firm lodging For a known
extent And We determined it, and excellent
are We to determine Al-Mursalaat 7720-23 - And who destined and then guided Al-Alaa
873 - ... But it was so that Allah might accomplish
a matter already destined... Al-Anfaal 842 - When He decrees a matter, He only says to it,
'Be,' and it is Aal-Imraan 347
8A few proofs of Qadar from the Sunnah
- The hadith of Jibreel (see notes for Hadith
class) - Taawoos said I met some people from among the
companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be
upon him), they said Everything happens by
Qadar, and I heard Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah
be pleased with them both) say that the Prophet
(peace be upon him) said Everything happens
by Qadar, even helplessness and resourcefulness
or he said resourcefulness and helplessness
Muslim - The Prophet (peace be upon him) said The strong
believer is better and more beloved to Allah than
the weak believer, and good is in both of them.
Stick to that which will benefit you, seek help
from Allah, and do not feel helpless and if
something bad happens to you, dont say If
only I did this or that, but say Qadar-ullahi
or Qaddar-allahu wa maa shaaa faal It is
Allahs decree or Allah has decreed and He
does what He wants, for indeed If opens a
door for the shaytaans work Muslim
9The Aqeedah of Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah with
regard to Qadar and QaDaa
- The aqeedah of Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah with
regard to Qadar and QaDaa, can be summarised in
three core principles - These principles should be memorised word for
word - Whoever understands these three principles and
acts upon them has completed their imaan in Qadar
10Principle 1
- Ahl-us-Sunnah believe that everything that
exists in this universe, whether objects or
actions, do not escape Allahs knowledge,
writing, will, and creation
11The four stages of Qadar (1)
- This principle explains to us the four stages of
Qadar - Knowledge
- Ahl-us-Sunnah believe that Allah knows
everything, both general and specific. His
knowledge has no beginning and no end. Nothing is
ever outside of his knowledge. Nobody can
encompass the smallest amount of His knowledge
without His permission. His knowledge encompasses
what exists and what doesnt exist, what is
possible, and what is impossible. He knows what
has happened and what will happen, and what
something would be like if it did happen
whether that thing is possible or impossible - Had they gone forth with you, they would not
have increased you except in confusion, and they
would have been active among you, seeking to
cause you fitnah At-Tawbah 947 - Had there been within the heavens and earth gods
besides Allah , they both would have been ruined.
So exalted is Allah , Lord of the Throne, above
what they describe Al-Anbiyaa 2122
12The four stages of Qadar (2)
- Writing
- Ahl-us-Sunnah believe that Allah wrote in al-lawh
al-mahfooDh (the Preserved Tablet), everything
that will happen until the Day of Judgement. - Abu Haazim Salamah bin Deenaar (a Taabiee) said
Allah knew before He wrote, and He wrote before
He created. So creation happened according to His
knowledge and His writing
13Other types of decree
- There are some other types of decree, which are a
part of general Qadar. All of these are written
in the Preserved Tablet - The decree that happens once in a persons
lifetime. This is when Allah commands the angel
to go to the unborn child and write its
provision, lifespan, deeds, and whether it will
be from the people of paradise or the people of
hellfire - The decree that happens once a year. This is on
laylat-ul-Qadar when it is written the provision
of the year, and who will die during it - The decree that happens every day. This is
mentioned in Surah Ar-Rahman Whoever is within
the heavens and earth asks Him every day He is
bringing about a matter Ar-Rahman 5529
14The four stages of Qadar (3)
- Will
- Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah believe that
everything that happens in this universe, happens
by the will of Allah, and that He wants it to
happen. - Ash-Shaafiee wrote a poem ma shita kaana, wa
in lam asha wa maa shitu in lam tasha lam
yakun. Khalaqtal-ibaada alaa maa alimta, wa fil
ilm yajree al fataa wal musinu, alaa dhaa
mananta wa hadhaa khaldhata, wa hadhaa aanta wa
dhaa lam tuin, fa minhum shaqeeun wa minhum
saeedun wa minhum qabeehun wa min hum hasan - What you willed has happened, even if I didnt
will it, and what I willed if you didnt will it,
didnt happen - You created your slaves upon what you know, and
in your knowledge are the young and the old - This one you favoured, And this one you forsook,
and this one you helped and that one you didnt - From them are the wretched and from them are
those who are happy, and from them are the ugly
and from them are the beautiful
15Important points with regard to the will of Allah
- Whatever happens, happens by the will of Allah.
Therefore, whatever doesnt happen is because
Allah does not want it to - Allahs will is of two types
- That which Allah wills to happen whether He
loves it or He doesnt love it - That which Allah loves to happen whether it
happens or not - The two come together when a good deed happens,
because Allah willed it to happen, and Allah
loves it to happen - The two are not present when a bad deed doesnt
happen, because Allah didnt will it to happen,
and Allah doesnt love it to happen - The first type is present on its own when a sin,
or something permissible happens, or something
exists that we have no proof that Allah loves it,
because Allah willed it to happen but He doesnt
love it to happen - The second type is present on its own when a good
deed doesnt happen, because Allah didnt will it
to happen, but Allah loves it to happen
16Questions about Allahs will
- For each example, explain which if any - of the
two types of Allahs will are present - The Imaan of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq (may Allah be
pleased with him) - The Kufr of Abu Jahl
- The Imaan of Abu Jahl
- The Kufr of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with
him) - The existence of a car
17Some important observations
- We can see from this that just because something
happens, doesnt mean that Allah loves it to
happen - Whatever Allah wills to happen must happen, but
whatever Allah loves to happen, may happen and
may not happen - If something happens that Allah hates, Allah does
not want it to happen for the sake of it, but
wants other benefits that happen as a result of
it (The example of amputating a leg) - If Allah loves something to happen, this means
that the thing is obligatory or recommended. If
Allah wills something to happen, it does not
carry any ruling
18Why does Allah decree bad things to happen?
- The answer Out of His perfect wisdom
- Allah does not create pure evil
- Allah wants the things that happen as a result
- Ibn-ul-Qayyim mentiones more than 30 benefits
that occur as a result of the existence of sin,
from them - Tawbah
- Knowing that Allah is All-forgiving, and this
necessitates that there will be sins - The slave knows his constant need of Allah
- Because a slave sins and wants to be forgiven, he
acts towards others in a forgiving manner
19The four stages of Qadar (4)
- Creation
- Ahl-us-Sunnah believe that Allah is the creator
of everything. Everything that exists in this
universe was created by Allah, whether objects,
characteristics, or actions. - I emphasise that the Quraan is the speech of
Allah, and is totally uncreated in every aspect
20Principle 2
- There is no contradiction between affirming
Allahs will and that Allah has created our
actions, and between affirming that our actions
belong to us and that we have a will
21Our actions are created
- Our actions are created. However, they are still
our actions. How can we reconcile these two
principles? - Sometimes Allah creates directly, and sometimes
Allah creates indirectly. For example, we all
know and believe that Allah created us, and yet
we know that we come from our mother and father.
Allah created us using our mother and father.
Thus the way that Allah created Adam (peace be
upon him) was different from the way that we are
created, but all are from Allahs creation.
22Some important points about our actions
- Our actions are our own, and are attributed to
us. For that reason we are rewarded and punished
because of them. - The servants of Allah have an ability to do
things, that Allah has given them. However, the
servants own ability is not enough for something
to happen. Rather, it can only happen with
Allahs help and by removing the things which
prevent it (and this is also from Allah). - The servants of Allah have a will. However, their
will cannot escape the will of Allah.
23Principle 3
- Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah believe that guidance
and misguidance are in the hands of Allah He
guides whoever He wills as a blessing from Him
and a favour, and He misguides whoever He wills
from His perfect wisdom and justice
24Guidance
- Guidance is from Allah, He guides whoever He
wills from His slaves - This guidance is a pure favour from Him, the
servants of Allah do not deserve anything from
Him - The granting of this blessing and favour returns
to Allahs knowledge and wisdom. So whoever Allah
guides, He does so because of His knowledge and
wisdom - Allah grants guidance in two ways
- The initial guidance which Allah gives to His
slaves - When the slave is guided and does good deeds,
they increase him in guidance
25Misguidance
- Misguidance is pure justice from Allah
- Allah has shown the way to the truth and
established His proof upon His creation - Those who have been misguided have preferred
misguidance over being guided - Misguidance is pure wisdom from Allah.
- This is because wisdom involves putting something
in its correct place - If the disbelievers were to be returned to the
earth after the hellfire, they would still
disbelieve - Misguidance is a punishment from Allah and has
two aspects - Punishment for not believing in the first place
- Punishment for following falsehood
26Why did Allah guide some and not guide others?
- Allah is not asked about what He does but the
servants are asked about what they do - Allah knows best who is deserving of His favour
- Withholding a favour is not oppression,
especially if the person didnt deserve the
favour in the first place
27If we know everything is pre-decreed, should we
act?
- This should make us act not make us lazy
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said Act, for
that which you have been created for will be made
easy for you - Some of the sahaabah said after hearing the
explanation of Qadar I have never worked so
hard as I do now - The harder you work to achieve your goal, the
easier Allah will make it for you to achieve if
you work hard you will be nearer in description
to those who Allah loves - You dont know what has been written for you, you
can only act - Allah has created things which cause other things
to happen. Imagine a person who sat on his own in
his house saying If Allah wills me to have a
child it will happen. Everybody would laugh at
his stupidity and say go and get married! Even
more stupid than him is the person who doesnt
worship Allah to the best of his ability saying
If Allah has written that I will go to Jannah
I will go. - The one who does the actions of the people of
paradise then goes to hell will not have been
sincere in his actions - Never say Why!!
28The Benefits of believing in Qadar (1)
- Perfecting your tawheed because belief in qadar
is a part of the Oneness of Allah in His Lordship
that He has complete control of the world and
everything that is in it, and everything depends
completely upon him. - 2. Increasing your imaan As Allah says No
disaster strikes except by permission of Allah .
And whoever believes in Allah - He will guide his
heart. And Allah is Knowing of all things.
Alqamah may Allah have mercy on him said
The aayah is referring to a person who is struck
by a disaster but he knows it is from Allah so he
accepts it and ispleased with it and so Allah
guides his heart. - 3. Achieving true ikhlaas (sincerity) because
you realise that Allah controls everything and
therefore there is no reason to show off in front
of anyone else - 4. Achieving complete trust in Allah because
when you know that everything comes from Allah
you rely on him completely. - 5. Fear of Allah because when you really
believe in qadar you accept that you dont know
what is written for you at the end of your life.
29The Benefits of believing in Qadar (2)
- 6. Achieving true patience because everything
that happens is from Allah and you cant change
it, so it makes you practice being patient upon
every single thing that happens to you. And
patience is from the attributes of the believers.
Allah said And We will surely test you with
something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth
and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to
the patient, Who, when disaster strikes them,
say, Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to
Him we will return. Those are the ones upon whom
are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it
is those who are the rightly guided. And
patience is the way of the Prophets and the
pious. As Luqmaan the wise advised his son O my
son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right,
forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what
befalls you. Indeed, all that is of the matters
requiring determination. And patience is of
three general types patience upon doing good
deeds, patience upon keeping away from sins, and
patience upon what happens to you from the qadar
of Allah. And when you achieve this being
patient upon what happens to you and thanking
Allah for what He has given you you become from
those people who the Messenger of Allah (peace
and blessings be upon him) said about them How
wonderful is the case of a believer there is
good for him in everything. If he is prosperous,
he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good
for him and if adversity befalls him, he endures
it patiently and that is better for him". - 7. There is a level of belief in qadar which is
even higher than being patient to be content
with what happens to you as a result of qadar.
There is a level even higher than that when you
are actually happy with what happens to you
because you know that Allah is the one who
decreed it for you. And that is the highest level
of belief in qadar. - 8. It allows you to be satisfied with what you
have and to be far away from jealousy, because
you could not have got what the other person had
and they could not have got what you have, and
you know that every single form of good is from
Allah and He gives it to whoever He wills. Allah
said And do not wish for that by which Allah
has made some of you exceed others. For men is a
share of what they have earned, and for women is
a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah
of his bounty. Indeed Allah is ever, of all
things, Knowing.