Other than Star Wars and baking, lately I have also been fascinated about something else - the 6th Article of Islam (i.e. the belief in qada’ and qadar). I have been searching high and low in the very limited number of bookstores in this very tiny country in trying to REALLY understand the concept of qada and qadar. However, with the very again limited number of books that are already in my possession, I have found some (yet insufficient) information on Islam and predestination. From the book, Hadith 40 (Terjemahan Dan Syarahanya), iman on predestination is the acknowledgement that Allah knows the path and journey of His servants and watches over all aspects of His servants’ lives. As muslims, we must have faith that every single thing that occurs in this life is within Allah’s consent ( pg. 110, Al-Ustadh Mustafa Abdul Rahman). I’ve read the associated explanation and narrations, but I still see a bit of grey areas scattered around. The same book had also mentioned a well-known hadith which stated that:
Abu Abd al-Rahman Abdullah bin Mas’ud r.a., reported: Rasulullah S.A.W., the most truthful, the most trusted, told us:
“Verily the creation of any one of you takes place when he is assembled in his mother’s womb; for forty days he is as a drop of fluid, then it becomes a clot for a similar period. Thereafter, it is a lump looking like it has been chewed for a similar period. Then an angel is sent to him, who breathes the ruh (spirit) into him. This Angel is commanded to write Four decrees: that he writes down his provision (rizq), his life span, his deeds, and whether he will be among the wretched or the blessed.
I swear by Allah - there is no God but He - one of you may perform the deeds of the people of Paradise till there is naught but an arm’s length between him and it, when that which has been written will outstrip him so that he performs the deeds of the people of the Hell Fire; one of you may perform the deeds of the people of the Hell Fire, till there is naught but an arm’s length between him and it, when that which has been written will overtake him so that he performs the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters therein.”
[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
From this hadith, I can understand that there are for things that has already been written for us, namely:
a) our rizq,
b) our lifespan
c) our deeds, and
d) whether we’ll be amongst the blessed or the wretched.
Now those 4 things seem to be everything, doesn’t it? So here are my questions – if every aspect of our life is already written, why is there a need to perform righteous deeds? Why do we need to perfom amal? Why do we need to fulfill the 5 pillars of Islam? Any of you been thinking of similar things but afraid to dwell on it due to fear it might be against our aqidah? If your niat of asking these questions is due to your apprehension towards Islam and its teachings, then maybe you should worry. However, if they are merely questions intended to motivate you in doing further research to further understand and appreciate Islam, Insya Allah, it shouldn’t do us any harm. Hence I’d like to make it very clear right now that I am not questioning the foundations of Islam. My questions are mere basis of exploration to guide me in seeking the right information for a deeper understanding of this Islamic concept.
Anyway, these sorts of questions had actually already been asked to Rasulullah S.A.W. (told ya asking such questions were not necessarily terrible. Hehe). In a hadith, Rasullullah S.A.W. stated that:
“Nobody amongst you have not been written on whether you will be placed in Jahanam or Jannah. Then they asked: Oh Rasullullah! If that is so, should we not just surrender to what’s written for us and abandon our amal? Rasullullah then said: Perform good deeds, for all will be made easier for what’s been decided for them. Should there be those who are amongst the blessed group so they would perform their amal with the amal of the blessed. And those who are from the wretched group so they would perform amal with the amal of the wretched…Then Rasululah S.A W. recidted an ayat, that is :
“Thus, as for him who gives [to others] and is conscious of God, and believes the truth of the ulimate good for him shall We make easy to the path towards [ultimate] ease. But as for him who is niggardly, and thinks that he is self-sufficient, and calls the ultimate good a lie - for him shall We make easy the path towards hardship”
[Surah Al-Lail: 5-10]
So from the above hadith and ayat, my understanding is that, it might have already been decided on whether we would end up in Jahanam or Jannah. However, if we perform good deeds and amal, the path towards Allah’s grace would be made easier for us. For in the sunnahs and Al-Quran, it has been mentioned repeatedly for us to seek Allah’s mercy and the return for our sincere ibadah would be the promise of Jannah. Such matters must surely have some significance if it is mentioned and stressed ever so often.
IMHO, life is like driving from point A and trying to get to point B (life events), with possibly over 10 routes just to get to point B. So life’s like that. A is the specific points in our lives, and B is our fate and destination. There would be certain things that are already meant for us, but how we get there is the deciding factor as to whether we would be rewarded or punished for these choices we make into getting to that point B. The series of events in our life might have already be written in Lauh Mahfudz, but Allah is Al Khaliq (the Creator), Al Azhim (the Magnificent), and Ar Rahim (All Merciful). If He wants something to happen, He only needs to say “Be” – and it will happen (Yasin: 82).
“And most certainly shall We try you by means of danger, and hunger, and loss of worldly goods, of lives and of [labour’s] fruits. But give glad tidings unto those who are patient in adversity” (Al Baqarah: 155)
“…so that He might put you to a test [and thus show] which of you is best in conduct, and [make you realize that] He alone is almighty, truly forgiving.” (Al Mulk: 2)
“ whereas he who shall appear before Him as a believer who has done righteous deeds - it is such that shall have lofty stations [in the life to come]”
Above are just some ayat from the Qura’an on some of the purpose in life. Perhaps it could also be assumed that our qadha could be tests for us to see which of His servants are worthy of His mercy. If the 6th Article of Iman tells us to just surrender to our fate, it wouldn’t be a need to give us tests in this life. There wouldn’t also be any rewards for performing righteous deeds.
Thus, we should never stop seeking for Allah’s grace and Allah’s help. We should never abandon every effort to achieve something just because we believe that what’s meant to be will be. We should never stop praying and hoping for all the good things in life and in the after life. For Allah is Most Powerful and He has the power to do anything He wants. He will remember us whenever we remember Him. He has promised us the good beyond all in the akhirah for our righteous deeds (Al Mu’min: 40).
However with every effort that we make in life, we should also be conscious of a pre-written fate and destiny. We should have confidence that all things that occur do not happen without Allah’s consent. Have iman on qada and qadar. For instance, if we’ve been trying so hard to attain something but never seem to even get any closer to it, do not blame the situation for being unfavourable, or ourselves for not doing enough. Have faith that maybe Allah is trying to say something to us. Maybe Allah wants to tell us that that something might not be for us, for all qadha is always deemed best for His servants (saying by Rasulallah S.A.W.).
There are just so many things in the Quran and the Sunnahs that directly and indirectly touches on this 6th Article of Iman. Me thinks somebody should really think about writing a book on it for people like I, and sell it in tiny countries like Brunei. I can guarantee you that I would be the first in line to pre-order waaaay before it’s date of release. Hehehe. Sure there’s internet, but the things that you find on the net are unfiltered and uncontrolled. You don’t know what they might be advocating, right? Books first. Internet second. Or check on the net, but compare with verified and authenticated books. Saaafer that way, don’t you think?
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