Believe in Qada & Qadar (Pre-destined & Destined)

12/4/2017, 15 Rejab 1438H

Qada & Qadar (Pre-destined & Destined)

Four things that Allah has set for us in our mother's womb:
1. Rizq (sustenance), 
2. Life span, 
3. Our actions, and 
4. Whether we will be happy or unhappy (i.e., whether or not we will enter Paradise)

On the authority of Abdullah ibn Masood (ra), who said:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he is the truthful, the believed, narrated to us, “Verily the creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother’s womb for forty days in the form of a nutfah (a drop), then he becomes an alaqah (clot of blood) for a like period, then a mudghah (morsel of flesh) for a like period, then there is sent to him the angel who blows his soul into him and who is commanded with four matters: to write down his rizq (sustenance), his life span, his actions, and whether he will be happy or unhappy (i.e., whether or not he will enter Paradise). By the One, other than Whom there is no deity, verily one of you performs the actions of the people of Paradise until there is but an arms length between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him, and so he acts with the actions of the people of the Hellfire and thus enters it; and verily one of you performs the actions of the people of the Hellfire, until there is but an arms length between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him and so he acts with the actions of the people of Paradise and thus he enters it.” [40 Hadith Nawawi #4, Bukhari & Muslim]

*The baby's heart starts to beat at around 6 weeks (6 weeks x 7 days = 42 days).

Surat Al-Furqān (The Criterian), Chapter 25, Verse 2:

"He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and who has not taken a son and has not had a partner in dominion and has created each thing and determined it with [precise] determination." (Quran 25:2)

Surat Al-Mulk (The Sovereignty), Chapter 67, Verse 2:

"[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving -" (Quran 67:2)

Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), Chapter 2, Verse 286:

"Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people." (Quran 2:286)

A Muslim believes in the ultimate Knowledge and Power of God to plan and execute His plans. God is Wise, Just, and Loving, and whatever He does must have a good motive, although we may fail sometimes to understand it fully. The believer should have strong faith in God, recognizing that their own knowledge is limited and their thinking is based on individual consideration. In contrast, the Knowledge of God is limitless and He plans on a universal basis. Humans should think, plan and make sound choices and then put their trust in God. If things happen as they want they should praise God. If things do not happen as they want they should still praise God, recognizing that He knows best what is good for the affairs of mankind.

Allah is Ever Knowing

Surat Al-Mulk (The Sovereignty), Chapter 67, Verse 14:

"Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted?" (Quran 67:14)

Surat Al-'An`ām (The Cattle), Chapter 6, Verse 18:

"And He is the subjugator over His servants. And He is the Wise, the Acquainted [with all]." (Quran 6:18)

Surat At-Taĥrīm (The Prohibtion), Chapter 66, Verse 3:

"And [remember] when the Prophet confided to one of his wives a statement; and when she informed [another] of it and Allah showed it to him, he made known part of it and ignored a part. And when he informed her about it, she said, "Who told you this?" He said, "I was informed by the Knowing, the Acquainted." (Quran 66:3)

We seek guidance from Allah, because He is our creator, so He know everything that we do not know. In Islam, when we are confuse in making decision, we are encourage to perform 'Salah Istikharah', to ask guidance from Allah to help us making the best decision.


Allah is our greatest helper

Surat Ash-Sharĥ (The Relief), Chapter 94, Verse 5-6:

"For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease." 

(Quran 94:5-6)

Every suffering has its end. With every hardship, Allah will send help until the hardship end. Allah repeat the same words twice in the same chapter, meaning that to convince us for Allah's help which is surreal. When we are in hardship, just struggle, be patience, and ask for help only from Allah. Allah's help will come in so many ways, that we can't expect. When the hardship end, we will be in success and happy, we forgot the hardship that we've been fought before. Allah is the greatest helper and our eternal refuge.

"Turn to Allah, before we return to Allah."

Our Gender, Race, Parents, Birthplace is not our choice, but determined by Allah.

References:

1. Articles of Faith, https://www.whyislam.org/islam123/articles-of-faith-2/, published 5th March 2015.
2. When Can I Hear My Baby's Heartbeat?, https://www.babycenter.com/404_when-can-i-hear-my-babys-heartbeat_10349811.bc, viewed 3rd October 2018.