What is Qadr? The Importance of Qadr (Predestination) in Islam

Qadr in Islam refers to the fact that any event that occurs in the heavens, the Earth and in our individual lives, occurs due to His divine decree. The collision of black holes, the birth of stars, the moment a soul enters this world, one’s parents, genetic makeup, past, present, and future, all were written in al-Lawh al-Mahfūẓ, 500,000 years before creation.

Verily, the first of what Allah created was the Pen, and He said to it: "Write." The Pen said: "O my Lord, what shall I write" He said: "Write the decree and whatever will throughout eternity." ~ Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2155

“Do you not know that Allah (fully) knows whatever is in the heavens and the earth? Surely it is all (written) in a Record. That is certainly easy for Allah.” ~ Qur’ān 22:70

Our belief in Qadr does not imply that humans do not possess free-will but that a human can act only in the bounds of what Allah has already decreed and that our individual actions are already encompassed in his ultimate knowledge. Recognizing this delicate balance of Allah’s decree and the limited scope of human free-will is imperative to our understanding of Qadr.

“To whoever of you wills to take the Straight Way. But you cannot will (to do so), except by the Will of Allah, the Lord of all worlds.” ~ Qur’ān 81:28-29

In Islam, scholars have long recognized Qadr as a core tenet of faith. Disbelief in Qadr invalidates one’s Iman. Qadr is the sixth pillar of faith in Islam. It is necessary to believe in it and to understand it to the extent Allah has revealed to us. Grasping Qadr often brings a paradigm shift in how we view the past, present and future. It nurtures trust in Allah, gratitude for the blessings and patience in the face of calamities and trials.

“He (the inquirer) said: Inform me about Iman (faith). He (the Holy Prophet) replied: That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Apostles, in the Day of Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree about good and evil. He (the inquirer) said: ‘You have told the truth.’” ~ Sahih Muslim 8a

Qadr: Types of Predestination

In Islam, there are two types of Qadr. Taqdeer-e-Mubram (Invariable Predestination) and Taqdeer-e-Muallaq (Conditional Predestination). The former is something we cannot change, the later can be changed via individual actions.

Invariable Predestination: This is the type of Qadr that cannot be changed nor does a person have a choice in it. The creation of the universe and its ultimate demise, one’s parents, the body in which a soul is placed, genetic makeup, intellectual capacity, physical appearance etcetera. This also includes a person’s lifespan and the Rizq assigned to them.

“He is the One Who shapes you in the wombs of your mothers as He wills.” ~ Qur’ān 3:6

Variable Predestination: This type of Qadr is contingent on human choices and actions, these actions occur within Allah’s complete and prior knowledge. Supplications, charity, and maintaining kinship can have a direct effect on our Qadr. The Prophet Peace Be Upon Him, taught us that nothing repels decree (a calamity for instance) except dua, maintaining kinship, charity and gratitude improves our emotional wellbeing and widens our lifespans.

“We already showed them the Way, whether they (choose to) be grateful or ungrateful.” ~ Qur’ān 76:3

To what extent do we have agency over our destiny? A man asked Ali ibn Abi Talib: “Are human actions forced (predestined), or do humans have free choice?” He replied: “Lift one of your legs from the ground.” The man lifted one leg. Then Ali ibn Abi Talib said: “Now lift the other leg as well.” The man said: “That is not possible. If I do that, I will fall.” Ali ibn Abi Talib then said: “This is the reality of destiny. A person has some choice, but he is not completely free.”

Qadr: Understanding the Difficult Parts

Inaction: Some people misunderstand Qadr and assume that it means leaving everything to divine intervention without any effort. For instance, one might proclaim, “I don’t have a job because this is the decree of Allah,” without putting in any effort to seek employment. If someone breaks a bone, they go to a hospital even while supplicating instead of a mosque.

“O Messenger of Allah! Shall I tie it and rely (upon Allah), or leave it loose and rely(upon Allah)?" He said: "Tie it and rely (upon Allah).” ~ Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2517

Action: On the other hand, a person may study and work hard but they will find themselves unemployed. Provision is ultimately from Allah, so either, perhaps they’re being tested, or their supplication is lacking. Hard work is essential but opportunity is something Allah grants.

“We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure” ~ Qur’ān 2:155

Unlawful & Lawful Acts: On the same note, a thief may steal a small sum but gains nothing. Allah had already decreed that amount for him and would have received it lawfully. So, by stealing, not only does he earn sin but the provision Allah had written for him would’ve reached him regardless.

“O people, fear Allah and be moderate in seeking a living, for no soul will die until it has received all its provision, even if it is slow in coming. So fear Allah and be moderate in seeking provision; take that which is permissible and leave that which is forbidden.” ~ Sunan Ibn Majah 2144

Some people curse their fate, while others complain about it. All the calamities that befall us comes from Allah and are a part of His divine decree. To curse one’s fate is to essentially curse the decree of Allah and to complain against it is likewise complaining against His decree. In both cases, we run the risk of showing discontentment to Allah Himself and making Him blameworthy. May Allah protect us from such acts.

However, expressing pain and weeping when the heart feels heavy is natural. In fact, it is encouraged. Many Prophets (Peace Be Upon Them All) cried and expressed their pain to Allah while supplicating, which not only means that acknowledging our grief and being vulnerable to Allah is permitted but also an act of worship when done with patience.

Recall the story of Prophet Yaʿqūb (Peace be Upon Him), who said to his children, “I complain of my anguish and sorrow only to Allah, and I know from Allah what you do not know.” ~ Qur’ān 12:86. His grief over the loss of his son was so deep that his eyes turned white and he lost his eyesight, even though he had faith in Allah and His plans but sometimes, knowledge isn’t enough to soothe an aching heart. Calamities may befall us, but we only complain of it, to Allah.

This is what the Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) said when his son, Ibrahim passed away in his infancy.

“The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord, O Ibrahim! Indeed we are grieved by your separation.” ~ Sahih al-Bukhari 1303

What If: Individuals who misunderstand Qadr inadvertently give excessive importance to their actions and adopt the mindset of “I’m the master of my fate.” Ironically, such people are riddled with regrets, constantly lamenting ‘what if’ and ‘I wish”, the Prophet taught us:

“If anything befalls you, do not say, "If only I had done such and such," rather say "Allah has decreed and whatever he wills, He does." For (saying) 'If' opens (the door) to the deeds of Satan.” ~ Sunan Ibn Majah 79

While effort is required, true peace comes from accepting Allah’s decree after we’ve done our part.

Qadr: Limitations

Limitations here refers to the limitations in discussing Qadr. Since, we cannot know the decree of Allah, it is sinful to predict or try to know its inner workings. After it has come to pass, the blessings, the calamities, can we know and say, it was from Allah but generally, we try our best and remain content with what will come.

“The Messenger of Allah came out to us while we were discussing Al-Qadar. He became angry such that his face became red, as if a pomegranate was bursting through his cheeks. He said: 'Is this what I have been sent to you with? The people before you were only ruined when they differed about this matter. I order you to not debate about it.'”

Conclusion

In the end, belief in Qadr is not meant to paralyze or confuse us but to strengthen our belief in Allah. It's a reminder that Allah’s will encompasses all throughout the past, present and future while still granting us free-will. This allows us to remain content as we cannot escape its grasp. We find resilience in hardship, humility in success, gratitude in blessings and patience in calamities. Qadr is not just a pillar of faith but a source of inner peace, shaping how we walk through life with trust in Allah.