The belief of Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa

1
The belief of Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah with
regard to Qadar and QaDaa

• Abu AbdirRahman Muhammad Humble

2
An 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

3
Why 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

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Qadar 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

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Qadar 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

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The 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

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A 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

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A 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

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The 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

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Principle 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

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The 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

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The 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

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Other 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

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The 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

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Important 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

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Questions 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

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Some 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

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Why 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

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The 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

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Principle 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

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Our 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.

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Some 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.

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Principle 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

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Guidance

• 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

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Misguidance

• 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

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Why 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

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If 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!!

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The 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.

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The 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.