The Second Degree of Islam - Part Five

Belief in Pre-decree

You must believe that Allah knows what happens and what shall happen; that He knows the conditions, deeds, life spans, and provisions of His slaves. He says, “Verily, Allah is the All-Knower of everything.” (Holy Quran 29:62)

God Almighty also says, “And with Him are the keys of all that is hidden; none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land and in the sea; not a leaf falls but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry but is written in a Clear Record.” (Holy Quran 6:59)

Furthermore, our Lord says the following:

• He registers all that in a record with Him. He also says, “And all things We have recorded with numbers (as a record) in a Clear Book.” (Holy Quran 36:12)

• He says, “Know you not that Allah knows all that is in the heavens and on the earth? Verily, it is all in the Book. Verily, that is easy for Allah.” (Holy Quran 22:70)

• He says, “Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is!” (Holy Quran 36:82)

• As it is Allah who preordained all things, it is also He who created all things. He says, “Verily, We have created everything with Divine Preordainment.” (Holy Quran 54:49)

• He also says, “Allah is the Creator of all things.” (Holy Quran 39:62)

He created men so they would worship Him and made that clear to them. He commanded them to obey Him, forbade them from disobeying Him, and made that clear to them. He gave them the power and will to obey Allah's commands and be rewarded, or disobey and be punished. If a man believes in the Divine Pre-ordainment, he will depend on Allah while making use of the means, for he knows that the means and their cases are all by Divine Pre-decree of Allah.

He will attain peace of mind and tranquility, for when he knows that it is Allah who gives that and that the preordained detestable thing shall happen no matter what, he will have rest of mind, and he will be pleased with the decision of Allah. No one will experience greater satisfaction and tranquility than the one who believes in the Divine Preordainment.

He will not be arrogant when he attains what he aims for, for he will know that the attainment of that blessing is from Allah through the means of good and success He has pre-decreed. He will therefore thank Allah for that.

He will not feel sad or distressed when he misses his desired goal or when unwanted events occur, as he understands that these happen due to the irresistible Decree of Allah. No one can resist His command or challenge His judgment. What he has pre-decreed will inevitably happen. He will therefore be patient and receive the reward thereof from Allah.

Allah says, “No calamity befalls on earth or in yourselves, but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah. So that you may not grieve at the things that you fail to get, nor rejoice over that which has been given to you. And Allah likes not prideful boasters.” (Holy Quran 57:22-23)

Lastly, when a man believes in the Divine Pre-ordainment, he will achieve complete dependence on Allah Almighty. Muslims understand that only Allah has the power to bring benefit or cause harm. He will not fear any powerful person due to their strength, nor will he hesitate to perform noble deeds out of fear of anyone.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told Ibn Abbas, “Know that if all mankind are unanimous on benefitting you, they cannot benefit you with anything except with that which Allah has predecreed for you. If they are also unanimous on harming you, they cannot harm you except with that which Allah has decreed for you.” (Ahmad and At-Tirmidhee)