Critical Analysis of Taqdir: A Foundation of Islam

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Introduction

Since childhood, we hear of our fates and destinies having been pre-determined and written down by Allah in the form of the Taqdir. We, of course, do not know the content of what exactly has been written down by Allah, but we grow up believing that what has been written down by Allah will indeed transpire; and that no deviation can occur from Allah’s words, for Allah possesses the foreknowledge of all things that will occur. Allah knows everything in advance, and what he knows, we do not know.

To be fair, we were never really critical thinkers as children, so it is natural that even if we did not understand something, we would simply go along with whatever our elders told us. With age however, comes the rapid unveiling of questions long repressed. One such question is regarding the insurmountable contradiction between the concept of free will and that of the Taqdir. It is this contradiction that is the topic of the article that you are reading. With any luck, this article may serve as food for thought for our curious readers.

The question before us today is whether or not a person’s moral or immoral actions can change the Taqdir which Allah has written down for all of us. For the Islamic claim is that Allah has written down everything eons before our birth.

I would often bring these questions up in school, or to the Imams from our local mosque. The Taqdir is generally explained through the analogy of a test, where the teacher conducts the test while being aware of who is a good student and who is a bad student. Similarly, Allah knows everything, so we must persevere, have faith and continue on with the exam of life. This analogy, however, is an egregious sin (Shirk) from the perspective of Islam. This is because comparing anyone or anything to Allah is a crime according to the Islamic scriptures. Pointing out this instance of Shirk right to the faces of my offending teachers and Imams has always resulted in me being the recipient of physical abuse. Despite the abuse however, I have never found till now, a satisfactory answer to my queries about the Taqdir. Allow me to elaborate the matter further.

Let us consider the teacher who conducts a test while being aware of which student will perform well, and which student will perform badly. This analogy is a false one since a teacher, no matter how knowledgeable, bears no similarity to Allah in terms of wisdom. Notice that at best, the teacher can only make assumptions based on previous experiences, previous studies, or previous schoolwork. These assumptions can sometimes lead to right conclusions and sometimes to wrong conclusions. The conclusions are more likely to be accurate if the teacher is acutely aware of each and every factor and variable related to those students. For instance, if Kalimuddin suffers from explosive diarrhea and cannot prepare for the examination, his chances of performing poorly has increased. On the other hand, another student, who is not as studious as Kalimuddin may in fact get better results than Kalimuddin, on account of being healthy and better prepared.

However, it is unrealistic to assume that any teacher would be aware of all the factors and variables that influence students. It is not possible for a teacher to say whether all the contestants are standing on a level playing field, or if they all have access to equal opportunity. If the teacher has foreknowledge that the good student will perform badly due to a disadvantage beyond their control (such as sickness), and that teacher continues with the test, resulting in a bad performance for the sick student, then the teacher’s entire teaching method and examination practices would be called into question question. Why did the teacher not ensure a level playing field for all students? Questions like these naturally arise at that point.

The teacher can never say anything with absolute certainty. Allah, however, has no such constraints, being above all human limitations. This means that Allah knows everything with absolute certainty, and the knowledge of Allah cannot be categorized as mere human thinking. Conceptualizing ideas in our head in the light of past experiences is a different matter entirely to knowing something with absolute 100% certainty. Those who compare the teacher with the knowledge of Allah are clearly committing Shirk. And according to Islamic scripture, any comparison or association of anything or anyone with Allah is an act of Shirk and is considered to be the highest crime in the religion.

Before delving into the main discussion, let us first examine what exactly is meant by the Taqdir according to the perspective of Islam.

What is the Taqdir?

One of the pillars of faith in Islam is the belief in Qajha (fate) and Taqdir (destiny). A Muslim’s faith is not complete unless they believe that whatever has transpired in reality is the only way in which events could have transpired. And that which has not happened could never have transpired under any circumstances whatsoever. This is because what Allah has written down is the way in which things will happen and what has not been written down will not happen. There can be no other alternatives. Only those who fully and completely believe that everything in reality transpires in accordance with Allah’s pre-determined Qajha and Taqdir are categorized as true Muslims in Islamic scripture. This is said in the hadith [1]

Jami` at-Tirmidhi
Chapters On Al-Qadar
Hadith Number: 2155
Abdul-Wahid bin Sulaym narrated:
“I arrived in Makkah and met ‘Ata bin Abi Rabah. I said to him: ‘O Abu Muhammad! The people of Al-Basrah speak about Al-Qadar.’ He said: ‘O my son! Do you recite the Quran?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Then recite Az-Zukhruf to me.'” He said: ‘So I recited: Ha Mim. By the manifest Book. Verily, We have made it a Qur’an in Arabic that you may be able to understand. And verily, it is in the Mother of Book with Us, indeed exalted, full of wisdom. Then he said: ‘Do you know what Mother of Books is?’ I said: ‘Allah and His Messenger know better.’ He said: ‘It is a book that Allah wrote before He created the Heavens, and before He created the earth. In it, it is (written): Fir’awn is among the inhabitants of the Fire, and in it is: Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab, and perish he!’Ata said: ‘I met Al-Walid the son of ‘Ubadah bin As-Samit the Companion of the Messenger of Allah (saw) and asked him:’What was your father’s admonition when he died?’ He said He called me and said: ‘O my son! Have Taqwa of Allah, and know that you will never have Taqwa of Allah until you believe in Allah, and you believe in Al-Qadar – all of it – its good and its bad. If you die upon another than this you shall enter the Fire. Indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) saying: “Verily the first of what Allah created was the Pen. So He said: ‘Write.’ It said: ‘What shall I write?’ He said: ‘Write Al-Qadar, what it is, and what shall it be, until the end.'” Ubadah bin As-Samit the Companion of the Messenger of Allah (saw) and asked him: ‘What was your father’s admonition when he died?’ He said: ‘He called me and said: ‘O my son! Have Taqwa of Allah, and know that you will never have Taqwa of Allah until you believe in Allah, and you believe in Al-Qadar – all of it – its good and its bad. If you die upon another than this you shall enter the Fire. Indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) saying: “Verily the first of what Allah created was the Pen. So He said: ‘Write.’ It said: ‘What shall I write?’ He said: ‘Write Al-Qadar, what it is, and what shall it be, until the end.'” Ubadah bin As-Samit the Companion of the Messenger of Allah (saw) and asked him: ‘What was your father’s admonition when he died?’ He said: ‘He called me and said: ‘O my son! Have Taqwa of Allah, and know that you will never have Taqwa of Allah until you believe in Allah, and you believe in Al-Qadar – all of it – its good and its bad. If you die upon another than this you shall enter the Fire. Indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) saying: “Verily the first of what Allah created was the Pen. So He said: ‘Write.’ It said: ‘What shall I write?’ He said: ‘Write Al-Qadar, what it is, and what shall it be, until the end.'” And know that you will never have Taqwa of Allah until you believe in Allah, and you believe in Al-Qadar – all of it – its good and its bad. If you die upon another than this you shall enter the Fire. Indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) saying: “Verily the first of what Allah created was the Pen. So He said: ‘Write.’ It said: ‘What shall I write?’ He said: ‘Write Al-Qadar, what it is, and what shall it be, until the end.'” And know that you will never have Taqwa of Allah until you believe in Allah, and you believe in Al-Qadar – all of it – its good and its bad. If you die upon another than this you shall enter the Fire. Indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) saying: “Verily the first of what Allah created was the Pen. So He said: ‘Write.’ It said: ‘What shall I write?’ He said: ‘Write Al-Qadar, what it is, and what shall it be, until the end.'”
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2155
In-book reference : Book 32, Hadith 23
English translation : Vol. 4, Book 6, Hadith 2155

Let us read directly from the book of Al-Tirmidhi. [2]

Taqdir 2

Consequences of Disbelief in the Taqdir

Many Muslims either do not believe what is said in Islam about the Taqdir, or they make their own fanciful fabrications regarding the Taqdir. However, if they do not believe in this very fundamental part of Islam, in the exact way in which it is described within Islamic scripture, then they are direct disbelievers, as can be seen in the Hadiths below. [3] [4]

Mishkat al-Masabih
Section: Faith
Chapter: Belief in the Divine Decree – Section 3
Hadith number: 115
Ibn ad-Dailami said:
I went to Ubayy b. Ka‘b and said to him, “I am confused about the divine decree, so tell me something by means of which God may remove the confusion from my mind.” He replied, “Were God to punish everyone in the heavens and the earth He would do so without being unjust to them, and were He to show mercy to them His mercy would be much better than their actions merited. Were you to spend in support of God’s cause an amount of gold equivalent to Uhud, God would not accept it from you till you believed in the divine decree and knew that what has come to you could not miss you and that what has missed you could not come to you. Were you to die believing anything else you would enter hell.” He said: I then went to ‘Abdallah b. Mas’ud and he said something to the same effect. I next went to Hudhaifa b. al-Yaman and he said something to the same effect. I next went to Zaid b. Thabit and he told me something from the Prophet to the same effect.
Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
Hadith Authenticity: Isnād Hasan (Zubair `Aliza’i)
Reference : Mishkat al-Masabih 115
In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 108

Mishkat al-Masabih
Section: Faith
Chapter: Belief in the Divine Decree – Section 3
Hadith number: 116
Nafi’ told how a man came to Ibn ‘Umar with a message that so and so sent him a greeting. He replied that he had heard he had introduced an innovation and that if that were so, he was not to convey his greeting to him, for he had heard God’s messenger say, “Among my people,” or “among this people the believers in freewill will be swallowed up and metamorphosed or pelted.”
Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih gharib tradition.
Reference : Mishkat al-Masabih 116
In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 109

The Taqdir in the Qur’an

The Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, states that a person cannot desire anything without the will of Allah. This means that if a person desires to rape, then this desire arises from the direct will of Allah. The person cannot desire anything on his own without the will of Allah. [5]

But you cannot will ˹to do so˺, except by the Will of Allah, the Lord of all worlds.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
But youpl cannot will unless Allah, the Lord of all realms, wills.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
And you do not will except that Allāh wills – Lord of the worlds.
— Saheeh International
but your wishing will not avail unless Allah, the Lord of the Universe, so wishes.1
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
And ye will not, unless (it be) that Allah willeth, the Lord of Creation.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
But ye shall not will except as Allah wills,- the Cherisher of the Worlds.
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

Allah has also clearly stated in the Qur’an that he deliberately seals the hearts of certain people, closing their ears and covering their eyes with a veil. Due to this, those people are prevented from understanding Islam. As a result, they become infidels and are punished. But if Allah does indeed seal the hearts of atheists like myself, due to which I am prevented from ever understanding Islam, who exactly is responsible for this state of affairs? [6]

Allah has sealed their hearts and their hearing, and their sight is covered. They will suffer a tremendous punishment.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and over their sight(s )1is a veil; for for them is a great punishment.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
Allāh has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil.1 And for them is a great punishment.
— Saheeh International
Allah has sealed their hearts1 and their hearing, and a covering has fallen over their eyes. They deserve severe chastisement.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
Allah hath sealed their hearing and their hearts, and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be an awful doom.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
Allah hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur).
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

Allah has also stated that he has created each and every substance in accordance with the Taqdir. [7]

Indeed, We have created everything, perfectly preordained.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Indeed, We have created everything in due measure.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
Indeed, all things We created with predestination.
— Saheeh International
We have created everything in a determined measure.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
Lo! We have created every thing by measure.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
Verily, all things have We created in proportion and measure.
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

Allah possesses foreknowledge of all the good things that happen in this world as well as all the disasters, trials, and tribulations before they even happen which he has written down in ‘al-Lawh al-Mahfuz (the Preserved Tablet). It is the duty of all Muslims to believe this. Allah says the following in the Qur’an [8]

No calamity ˹or blessing˺ occurs on earth or in yourselves without being ˹written˺ in a Record before We bring it into being. This is certainly easy for Allah.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
No calamity occurs on earth or among yourselves but it is already written in a Record before We make it— indeed, that is easy for Allah—
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being – indeed that, for Allāh, is easy –
— Saheeh International
No misfortune ever befalls on earth, nor on yourselves but We have inscribed it in the Book before We make it manifest. Surely that is easy for Allah.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
Naught of disaster befalleth in the earth or in yourselves but it is in a Book before we bring it into being – Lo! that is easy for Allah –
— English Translation (Pickthall)
No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence: That is truly easy for Allah:
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

According to Islam, every Muslim must believe that absolutely nothing operates or can happen outside the will of Allah, regardless of whether or not they correspond to the deeds advocated by Allah. Allah also chooses whatever he likes, the only sovereignty holder is Allah and all power belongs only to Him. Allah sets things up according to his wishes and choices, as has been stated in the Quran [9]

Your Lord creates and chooses whatever He wills—the choice is not theirs. Glorified and Exalted is Allah above what they associate ˹with Him˺!
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
And yoursg Lord creates whatever He wills and He chooses. Never could the choice be theirs. Highly Exalted is Allah, and Most High is He above the associations they make.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses; not for them was the choice. Exalted is Allāh and high above what they associate with Him.
— Saheeh International
Your Lord creates what He will and chooses (for His tasks) whomsoever He will. It is not for them to make the choice.1 Glory be to Allah. He is exalted far above their associating others in His Divinity.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
Thy Lord bringeth to pass what He willeth and chooseth. They have never any choice. Glorified be Allah and Exalted above all that they associate (with Him)!
— English Translation (Pickthall)
Thy Lord does create and choose as He pleases: no choice have they (in the matter): Glory to Allah! and far is He above the partners they ascribe (to Him)!
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

Allah has also stated that he does whatever he wants to and makes things occur according to his wishes. The question remains, is Allah’s wishes and actions dependent on human being? [10]

Allah makes the believers steadfast with the firm Word ˹of faith˺1 in this worldly life and the Hereafter. And Allah leaves the wrongdoers to stray. For Allah does what He wills.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Allah gives firmness to those who have attained faith with the firm statement in the Earlier Life and in the Hereafter, and Allah leads the unjustpl astray. And Allah does whatever He wills.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
Allāh keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word,1 in worldly life and in the Hereafter.2 And Allāh sends astray the wrongdoers. And Allāh does what He wills.
— Saheeh International
Thus, through a firm word, Allah grants firmness to the believers both in this world and in the Hereafter. As for the wrong-doers, Allah lets them go astray. Allah does whatever He wills.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
Allah confirmeth those who believe by a firm saying in the life of the world and in the Hereafter, and Allah sendeth wrong-doers astray. And Allah doeth what He will.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
Allah will establish in strength those who believe, with the word that stands firm, in this world and in the Hereafter; but Allah will leave, to stray, those who do wrong: Allah doeth what He willeth.
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

Allah has also stated in the Quran that he gives shape to human beings in the womb according to his own wishes. This means that from an Islamic perspective, the uncountable children who are born with physical and mental disabilities are shaped by Allah according to his will. [11]

He is the One Who shapes you in the wombs of your mothers as He wills. There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him—the Almighty, All-Wise.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
It is He Who designs youpl in the wombs as He wills. There is no god except He, the Almighty, the All-Wise.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
It is He who forms you in the wombs however He wills. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
— Saheeh International
It is He Who fashions you in the wombs as He wills. There is no God but He; the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
He it is Who fashioneth you in the wombs as pleaseth Him. There is no Allah save Him, the Almighty, the Wise.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
He it is Who shapes you in the wombs as He pleases. There is no god but He, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

Allah has further stated that nothing can happen without the will of Allah, including the actions of human beings [12] [13]

And so We have made for every prophet enemies—devilish humans and jinn—whispering to one another with elegant words of deception. Had it been your Lord’s Will, they would not have done such a thing. So leave them and their deceit,
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
And thus We made for every prophet an enemy—Satans from among humans and unseen beings—revealing to one another fancy words in order to deceive. But had yoursg Lord willed, they would not have done it, so leave them to their fabrications.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
And thus We have made for every prophet an enemy – devils from mankind and jinn, inspiring to one another decorative speech in delusion. But if your Lord had willed, they would not have done it, so leave them and that which they invent.
— Saheeh International
And so it is that against every Prophet We have set up the evil ones from among men and jinn, some of them inspire others with specious speech only by way of. delusion. Had it been your Lord’s will, they would not have done it. Leave them alone to fabricate what they will.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
Thus have We appointed unto every prophet an adversary – devils of humankind and jinn who inspire in one another plausible discourse through guile. If thy Lord willed, they would not do so; so leave them alone with their devising;
— English Translation (Pickthall)
Likewise did We make for every Messenger an enemy,– evil ones among men and jinns, inspiring each other with flowery discourses by way of deception. If thy Lord had so planned, they would not have done it: so leave them and their inventions alone.
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

˹Allah is˺ the One to Whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, Who has never had ˹any˺ offspring, nor does He have a partner in ˹governing˺ the kingdom. He has created everything, ordaining it precisely.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
The One to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Who has not taken for Himself any offspring nor has He any associate in the dominion, and He has created everything and determined its measure.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
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.
— Saheeh International
He to Whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth; Who has taken to Himself no son nor has He taken any partner in His kingdom; Who created everything and then determined its destiny.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
He unto Whom belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, He hath chosen no son nor hath He any partner in the Sovereignty. He hath created everything and hath meted out for it a measure.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: no son has He begotten, nor has He a partner in His dominion: it is He who created all things, and ordered them in due proportions.
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

Additionally, since the entire universe is owned by Allah, nothing can occur within his realm that is outside of Allah’s knowledge. According to the Qur’an [14] [15]

Whoever Allah guides is truly guided. But whoever He leaves to stray, you will never find for them a guiding mentor.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Whomever Allah guides is the(truly) guided one, but whomever He leads astray—for him yousg will find no guiding guardian.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
He whom Allāh guides is the [rightly] guided, but he whom He sends astray – never will you find for him a protecting guide.
— Saheeh International
Whomsoever Allah guides, he alone is led aright; and whomsoever Allah lets go astray, you will find for him no guardian to direct him.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
He whom Allah guideth, he indeed is led aright, and he whom He sendeth astray, for him thou wilt not find a guiding friend.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
He whom Allah, guides is rightly guided; but he whom Allah leaves to stray,– for him wilt thou find no protector to lead him to the Right Way.
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

Whoever Allah guides is truly guided. But whoever He leaves to stray, you will never find for them a guiding mentor.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Whomever Allah guides is the(truly) guided one, but whomever He leads astray—for him yousg will find no guiding guardian.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
He whom Allāh guides is the [rightly] guided, but he whom He sends astray – never will you find for him a protecting guide.
— Saheeh International
Whomsoever Allah guides, he alone is led aright; and whomsoever Allah lets go astray, you will find for him no guardian to direct him.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
He whom Allah guideth, he indeed is led aright, and he whom He sendeth astray, for him thou wilt not find a guiding friend.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
He whom Allah, guides is rightly guided; but he whom Allah leaves to stray,– for him wilt thou find no protector to lead him to the Right Way.
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

Now let us read the following verse with its explanation (Tafsir). [16]

But you cannot will ˹to do so˺ unless Allah wills. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Yet youpl cannot will, unless Allah wills. Indeed, Allah has always been All-Knowing, All- Wise.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
And you do not will except that Allāh wills. Indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise.
— Saheeh International
But your willing shall be of no avail until Allah Himself so wills. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, Most Wise.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
Yet ye will not, unless Allah willeth. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
But ye will not, except as Allah wills; for Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

Let us also see the translation of this verse from the Clear Quran [17]-

Taqdir 4

Now let us read the explanation (Tafsir) of this verse, from Tafsir Ibn Kathir [18]

Taqdir 6
Taqdir 8

It is also stated very clearly in the Quran that Satan (Iblis) seduces and persuades people only with the permission of Allah. Satan is unable to lead even a single person astray without the permission of Allah. The Qur’an states [19]

Secret talks are only inspired by Satan to grieve the believers. Yet he cannot harm them whatsoever except by Allah’s Will. So in Allah let the believers put their trust.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Indeed,(malicious) private conversations are from Satan, that those who have attained faith may be sad . But he cannot harm them at all except by Allah’s leave. And in Allah let the believers place their trust.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
Private conversation is only from Satan that he may grieve those who have believed, but he will not harm them at all except by permission of Allāh. And upon Allāh let the believers rely.
— Saheeh International
Whispering is an act of Satan, one that aims at causing grief to the believers; yet without Allah’s leave no harm can be caused to them. So in Allah should the believers put all their trust.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
Lo! Conspiracy is only of the devil, that he may vex those who believe; but he can harm them not at all unless by Allah’s leave. In Allah let believers put their trust.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
Secret counsels are only (inspired) by the Evil One, in order that he may cause grief to the Believers; but he cannot harm them in the least, except as Allah permits; and on Allah let the Believers put their trust.
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

Hide-and-Seek with the Taqdir

Despite the importance of belief in the Taqdir within Islam, the Prophet Muhammad forbade any and all forms of discussions and debates regarding it. The Prophet would grow extremely irate whenever someone discussed this in his vicinity. The Prophet would often reprimand his followers and stated that discussing the Taqdir would lead to the destruction of Islamic people. [20] [21]

Jami` at-Tirmidhi
Hadith number: 2133
Chapters On Al-Qadar
32 Chapters On Al-Qadar
Abu Hurairah narrated:
The Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) came out to us while we were discussing about 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 ordered you to do?’ – or: ‘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 [I order you] to not debate about it.'”.
Hadith Authenticity: Hasan (Islamic foundation, Albani) and Daif (Darus salam)
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2133
In-book reference: Book 32, Hadith 1
English translation: Vol. 4, Book 6, Hadith 2133

Sunan at-Tirmidhi
Hadith Number: 2136
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh
35. Chapters On Al-Qadar
Section: A stern warning about discussing Taqdir
Abu Hurairah narrated:
“The Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) came out to us while we were discussing about 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 ordered you to do?’ – or: ‘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 [I order you] to not debate about it.'”.
Hadith Authenticity: Hasan

Let’s take a look at what is mentioned about this topic in the Aqeedah book of Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaat. One of the most well-known books on Aqeedah is Sharhul Aqeedah At-Tahabiyah, written by Imam Ibn Abeel Iz al-Hanafi. In his work, he discusses this particular dogmatic issue in Islam and advises the entire Ummah to avoid seeking knowledge, investigate or contemplating it. According to the author, contemplating this matter can potentially undermine one’s faith in Islam, and this sentiment is shared by other scholars as well [22]

Taqdir 10

Human Beings are Created to Commit Sins

It has been stated in a Sahih Hadith that if human beings did not commit any sins, then Allah would remove them and create a new race of people to commit sins and ask forgiveness from Allah. This means that sinners and their pleas for forgiveness are more valuable to Allah than a person who has committed no sins. Allah wants his worshippers to commit sins and ask for his forgiveness. And if no sins are committed, there would be no need to ask for Allah’s forgiveness, and hence, no need for Allah. Therefore, according to Islam, humankind’s continued existence is dependent on our sins. [23]

Mishkat al-Masabih
Hadith number: 2328
9. Supplications
(4a) Chapter: Prayer for Pardon, and Repentance – Section 1
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “By Him in whose hand my soul is, if you had not sinned God would have removed you and brought a people who sin, then ask God’s pardon and are forgiven.”
Muslim transmitted it.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih
Reference : Mishkat al-Masabih 2328
In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 102

Allah Acts Through Human Behaviour

Let us begin with this Sahih Hadith that appears not only in the Sunan Abu Dawood but whose authenticity has also been reverified (Tahkik) by Muhammad Nasir Uddin Albani. In this Hadith, it is clearly stated that Allah has predetermined who will go to Heaven and who will go to Hell. [24] [25] [26]

Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith number: 4703
Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah)
35. Sunnah
Section: 17. About Taqdir
Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab:
Muslim ibn Yasar al-Juhani said: When Umar ibn al-Khattab was asked about the verse “When your Lord took their offspring from the backs of the children of Adam” – al-Qa’nabi recited the verse–he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say when he was questioned about it: Allah created Adam, then passed His right hand over his back, and brought forth from it his offspring, saying: I have these for Paradise and these will do the deeds of those who go to Paradise. He then passed His hand over his back and brought forth from it his offspring, saying: I have created these for Hell, and they will do the deeds of those who go to Hell.
A man asked: What is the good of doing anything, Messenger of Allah? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When Allah creates a servant for Paradise, He employs him in doing the deeds of those who will go to Paradise, so that his final action before death is one of the deeds of those who go to Paradise, for which He will bring him into Paradise. But when He creates a servant for Hell, He employs him in doing the deeds of those who will go to Hell, so that his final action before death is one of the deeds of those who go to Hell, for which He will bring him into Hell.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih (Albani)

Taqdir 12

Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith number: 4703
42. Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah)
(1693)Chapter: Belief In Divine Decree
Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab:
Muslim ibn Yasar al-Juhani said: When Umar ibn al-Khattab was asked about the verse “When your Lord took their offspring from the backs of the children of Adam” – al-Qa’nabi recited the verse–he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say when he was questioned about it: Allah created Adam, then passed His right hand over his back, and brought forth from it his offspring, saying: I have these for Paradise and these will do the deeds of those who go to Paradise. He then passed His hand over his back and brought forth from it his offspring, saying: I have created these for Hell, and they will do the deeds of those who go to Hell.
A man asked: What is the good of doing anything, Messenger of Allah? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When Allah creates a servant for Paradise, He employs him in doing the deeds of those who will go to Paradise, so that his final action before death is one of the deeds of those who go to Paradise, for which He will bring him into Paradise. But when He creates a servant for Hell, He employs him in doing the deeds of those who will go to Hell, so that his final action before death is one of the deeds of those who go to Hell, for which He will bring him into Hell.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4703
In-book reference : Book 42, Hadith 108
English translation : Book 41, Hadith 4686

This is a famous hadith and also mentioned in many hadith books [27]

Mishkat al-Masabih
Hadith number: 95
Hadith Academy
1. Faith
Chapter: Belief in the Divine Decree – Section 2
Muslim b. Yasar said that when ‘Umar b. al-Khattab was questioned about the verse, “When your Lord took their offspring from the backs of the children of Adam…” 1 he replied that he had heard God’s messenger say when he was questioned about it, “God created Adam, then passed His right hand over his back and brought forth from it his offspring, saying, ‘I have created these for paradise and they will do the deeds of those who go to paradise.’ He then passed his hand over his back and brought forth from it his offspring, saying, ‘I have created these for hell and they will do the deeds of those who go to hell’.” A man asked, “What is the good of doing anything, messenger of God?” to which God’s messenger replied, “When God creates a man for paradise He employs him in doing the deeds of those who will go to paradise, so that his final action before death is one of the deeds of those who go to paradise, for which He will bring him into paradise. But when He creates a man for hell He employs him in doing the deeds of those who will go to hell, so that his final action before death is one of the deeds of those who go to hell, for which He will bring him into hell.”
Malik, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Now let us read directly from the main book [28]

Taqdir 14

The following Hadith ought also to be mentioned [29]

Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith number: 4630
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh
35. Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah)
Section: 17. About Destiny.
Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab:
Muslim ibn Yasar al-Juhani said: When Umar ibn al-Khattab was asked about the verse “When your Lord took their offspring from the backs of the children of Adam” – al-Qa’nabi recited the verse–he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say when he was questioned about it: Allah created Adam, then passed His right hand over his back, and brought forth from it his offspring, saying: I have these for Paradise and these will do the deeds of those who go to Paradise. He then passed His hand over his back and brought forth from it his offspring, saying: I have created these for Hell, and they will do the deeds of those who go to Hell.
A man asked: What is the good of doing anything, Messenger of Allah? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
When Allah creates a servant for Paradise, He employs him in doing the deeds of those who will go to Paradise, so that his final action before death is one of the deeds of those who go to Paradise, for which He will bring him into Paradise. But when He creates a servant for Hell, He employs him in doing the deeds of those who will go to Hell, so that his final action before death is one of the deeds of those who go to Hell, for which He will bring him into Hell.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Another famous Hadith asserts that every human being acts and behaves according to the purpose that they were created for by Allah, or that which has been made easy for them by Allah. [30] [31]

Sahih Al Bukhari
Hadith number: 6596
Tawheed Publications
82/ Divine Will (Al-Qadar)
Section: 82/2. The pen of Allah’s Ilm-Mutabiq (after writing) has dried up.
Allah’s Word: “Allah knowingly led him astray” – (Surah Jasiyah 45/23) Abu Hurairah (RA) said, The Prophet (SAW) said to me: The pen has dried up after writing what you will face (what will happen to you). Ibn Abbas (RA) said, Goodness prevailed over them.
Narrated `Imran bin Husain:
A man said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Can the people of Paradise be known (differentiated) from the people of the Fire; The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, “Yes.” The man said, “Why do people (try to) do (good) deeds?” The Prophet said, “Everyone will do the deeds for which he has been created to do or he will do those deeds which will be made easy for him to do.” (i.e. everybody will find easy to do such deeds as will lead him to his destined place for which he has been created).
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih


Sahih al-Bukhari
Hadith number: 6596
Divine Will (Al-Qadar)
82 Divine Will (Al-Qadar)
(2)Chapter: The pen has become dry with Allah’s Knowledge
Narrated `Imran bin Husain:
A man said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Can the people of Paradise be known (differentiated) from the people of the Fire; The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, “Yes.” The man said, “Why do people (try to) do (good) deeds?” The Prophet said, “Everyone will do the deeds for which he has been created to do or he will do those deeds which will be made easy for him to do.” (i.e. everybody will find easy to do such deeds as will lead him to his destined place for which he has been created).
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6596
In-book reference: Book 82, Hadith 3
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 8, Book 77, Hadith 595

Another Hadith states that Satan (Iblis) can only trap and deceive those who have been predestined to go to Hell by Allah! I’ll leave it to the readers to figure out what this actually means. [32]

Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith number: 4539
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh
35/ Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah)
Khalid al-Hadhdha asked al-Hasan about the Quranic verse:
“Can lead (any) into temptation concerning Allah, except such as are (themselves) going to the blazing fire.” He said: Except the one whom Allah destined that he should go to Hell.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Now, if a person commits a rape, was that predetermined by Allah, or was that the rapist’s personal agentic choice? We will also discuss that later.

Does Human Performance Have Any Value?

The above hadiths clearly state that Allah has predetermined everything in the form of the Taqdir. Does human performance therefore have any value? Can a person change the Taqdir that has been determined by Allah based on his performance in this life alone? n the following Hadith, the Prophet himself expresses uncertainty as to whether or not he will personally ever reach Heaven. Let us read Directly from the Hadith. [33] [34] [35]

Sahih Muslim
Hadith number: 6852
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh
53. Characteristics of the Day of Judgment, Paradise, and Hell
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
There is none whose deeds alone would entitle him to get into Paradise. It was said to him: And, Allah’s Messenger, not even you? Thereupon he said: Not even I, but that my Lord wraps me in Mercy.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Sahih Muslim
Hadith number: 6853
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh
53. Characteristics of the Day of Judgment, Paradise, and Hell
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
There is none amongst you whose deeds alone would attain salvation for him. They (the Companions) said: Allah’s Messenger, not even you? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Not even I, but that Allah wraps me in Mercy and He grants me pardon. Ibn ‘Aun pointed towards his head with his hand saying: Not even I, but that Allah wraps me in His Forgiveness and Mercy.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Sahih Muslim
Hadith number: 6854
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh
53. Characteristics of the Day of Judgment, Paradise, and Hell
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
There is none whose deeds alone can’secure salvation for him. They said: Allah’s Messenger, not even you? Thereupon he said: Not even I, but that, the Mercy of Allah should take hold of me.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Human Adultery is Predetermined

Has Allah also written down how much adultery a person will commit throughout their lives in the Taqdir? Let us see what the Hadiths have to say! [36] [37] [38] [39] [40]

Sahih Muslim
Hadith number: 6513
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh
48. The Book of Destiny
Section: 5. The part of Bani Adam’s Adultery etc. is preordained
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying. Allah fixed the very portion of adultery which a man will indulge in. There would be no escape from it. The adultery of the eye is the lustful look and the adultery of the ears is listening to voluptuous (song or talk) and the adultery of the tongue is licentious speech and the adultery of the hand is the lustful grip (embrace) and the adultery of the feet is to walk (to the place) where he intends to commit adultery and the heart yearns and desires which he may or may not put into effect.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Sahih Muslim
Hadith number: 6512
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh
48. The Book of Destiny
Section: 5. The part of Bani Adam’s Adultery etc. is preordained
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:
Verily Allah has fixed the very portion of adultery which a man will indulge in, and which he of necessity must commit. The adultery of the eye is the lustful look, and the adultery of the tongue is the licentious speech, the heart desires and yearns, which the parts may or may not put into effect.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Sahih Muslim
Hadith number: 6646
Hadith academy
The Book of Destiny
Section: 5. The portion of adultery and other matters on the children of Adam is preordained
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:
Verily Allah has fixed the very portion of adultery which a man will indulge in, and which he of necessity must commit. The adultery of the eye is the lustful look, and the adultery of the tongue is the licentious speech, the heart desires and yearns, which the parts may or may not put into effect. (Islamic foundation, Hadith number: 6512, Islamic Center, Hadith number: 6563)
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Sunan Abi Dawud (Tahqeeq by Albani)
6. Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah)
Ibn ‘Abbas said “I did not see anything more resembling to minor sins than what Abu Hurairah reported from the Prophet (ﷺ) who said “Allaah has decreed for the children of Adam a share in adultery, he will get it by all means, the adultery of eyes is looking; the adultery of tongue is speaking; the soul desires and has a passion; the private parts confirms or falsifies it.”1
(1). Bukhari, Muslim
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Mishkat al-Masabih
Hadith Number: 86
1. Faith
Section: 3. First Paragraph – Belief in Predestination
Chapter: Belief in the Divine Decree – Section 1
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Allah has decreed for man his portion of fornication which he will inevitably commit. The fornication of the eye consists in looking, and of the tongue in speech. The soul wishes and desires, and the private parts accord with that or reject it.”
(Bukhari and Muslim.)1
In a version by Muslim he said, “Man’s share of fornication which he will inevitably commit is decreed for him. The fornication of the eyes consists in looking, of the ears in hearing, of the tongue in speech, of the hand in violence, and of the foot in walking. The heart lusts and wishes, and the private parts accord with that or reject it.” 2
(1) Sahih : Bukhari 6243, Muslim 2657, Abi daud 2152, Ahmad 7719, Hibban 4420
(2) Sahih : Muslim 2657।
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

More Hadiths Regarding the Taqdir

Imagine that someone rapes a six month old child and then murders that child afterwards. Has that person consciously chosen to commit said crime? Is that person solely responsible for his crime? Or was his crime predetermined and written down in the Taqdir years before the creation of the earth? Did Allah make that person commit this crime and then send him to Hell, solely because he was created to be sent to Hell? The above Hadiths clearly substantiate such a state of affairs.

At the same time, the Prophet has confirmed that who will go to Heaven and who will go to Hell is determined before their birth; while they are “unconscious in their father’s backbone” according to Islamic scripture. This means that whatever good or bad deeds a person commits is predetermined before the conscious decision is made to perform those said deeds. [41]

Sunan Ibn Majah
Hadith Number: 82
The Book of the Sunnah
(10)Chapter: Regarding the Divine Decree (Qadr)
It was narrated that ‘Aishah the Mother of the Believers said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was called to the funeral of a child from among the Ansar. I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, glad tidings for him! He is one of the little birds of Paradise, who never did evil or reached the age of doing evil (i.e, the age of accountability).’ He said: ‘It may not be so, O ‘Aishah! For Allah created people for Paradise, He created them for it when they were still in their father’s loins, And He has created people for Hell, He created them for it when they were still in their fathers’ loins.'”‏ ‏
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 82
In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 82
English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 82

The Hadith below re-iterates the same thing, that Has already predetermined who will go to Heaven and who will go to Hell beforehand. [42]

Sunan Abi Dawud (Tahqeeq by Albani)
Hadith number: 4713
Kitab Al-Sunnah
35. Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah)
‘A’ishah, mother of the believers, said :
The Prophet (May peace be upon him) was invited to the funeral of a boy who belonged to the ANSAR and I said; Messenger of Allah! This one is blessed, for he has done no evil, nor has he known it. He replied : It may be otherwise, ‘A’ishah, for Allah created Paradise and created those who will go to it, and He created it for them when they were still in their father’s loins; and he created hell and created those who will go to it, and created it for them when they were still in their father’s loins.1
(1). Muslim, Nasa’i, Ahmad।
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Additionally, Allah has fixed certain things absolutely for all of creation, which include [43]

Mishkat al-Masabih
Hadith number: 113
1. Faith
Chapter: Belief in the Divine Decree – Section 3
Abud Darda’ reported God’s messenger as saying, “God has preordained five things for every man He has created:
his period of life, his action, his lying down, his moving about, and his provision.”
Ahmad transmitted it.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

In Sahih Muslim, it is described from Abd Allah ibn Amr ibn al-As that- he said that he heard the Prophet Muhammad say: Allah has written the Taqdir 50,000 years before the creation of the world. [44]

Sahih Muslim
Hadith number: 6507
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh
48. The Book of Destiny‏
Chapter 2. The debate between Adam (as) and Musa (as).
Abdullah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As reported:
I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah ordained the measures (of quality) of the creation fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, as His Throne was upon water.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

The Hadiths of Mishkatul Masabih published by the Hadith Academy have been graded as Tahkikrito Sahih (or reverified as Sahih) by Shayekh Nasiruddin Albani. An explanation from the famous book Mishkat Sharah have also been added. [45]

Taqdir 16
Taqdir 18
Taqdir 20

Hadith Qudsi [46], which is known as Allah’s own words dictated from the mouth of Muhammad states that-

Allah first created the pen. After creation he said to the pen: ‘Write’. Kalam said: O Lord! What to write? He said: Write the Taqdir of everything until the Day of Resurrection.
( Abi daud- 4700) Albani Grading: Shahih

After the creation of Adam, Allah brough forth from Adam’s back the people who are destined for Heaven and Hell. From this, it can be understood that Allah has created certain people for Heaven and certain people for Hell. And that which Allah has written down cannot be deviated from under any circumstances. [47] [48]

Muwatta Malik
46. The Decree (Destiny)
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh
Section 1. Disputing about fate is prohibited
Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Abi Unaysa that Abd al-Hamid ibn Abd ar-Rahman ibn Zayd ibn al-Khattab informed him from Muslim ibn Yasar al-Juhani that Umar ibn al-Khattab was asked about this ayat – “When your Lord took their progeny from the Banu Adam from their backs and made them testify against themselves. ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said, ‘Yes, we bear witness’
Lest you should say on the Day of Rising, ‘We were heedless of that.'” (Sura 7 ayat 172) Umar ibn al-Khattab said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, being asked about it. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Allah, the Blessed, the Exalted, created Adam. Then He stroked his back with His right hand, and progeny issued from it. He said, “I created these for the Garden and they will act with the behaviour of the people of the Garden.” Then He stroked his back again and brought forth progeny from him. He said, “I created these for the Fire and they will act with the behaviour of the people of the Fire.” ‘A man said, ‘Messenger of Allah! Then of what value are deeds?’ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, answered, ‘When Allah creates a slave for the Garden, he makes him use the behaviour of the people of the Garden, so that he dies on one of the actions of the people of the Garden and by it He brings him into the Garden. When He creates a slave for the Fire, He makes him use the behaviour of the people of the Fire, so that he dies on one of the actions of the people of the Fire, and by it, He brings him into the Fire.’ “

Muwatta Malik
The Decree
46 The Decree
Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Abi Unaysa that Abd al-Hamid ibn Abd ar-Rahman ibn Zayd ibn al-Khattab informed him from Muslim ibn Yasar al-Juhani that Umar ibn al-Khattab was asked about this ayat – “When your Lord took their progeny from the Banu Adam from their backs and made them testify against themselves. ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said, ‘Yes, we bear witness’
Lest you should say on the Day of Rising, ‘We were heedless of that.'” (Sura 7 ayat 172) Umar ibn al-Khattab said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, being asked about it. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Allah, the Blessed, the Exalted, created Adam. Then He stroked his back with His right hand, and progeny issued from it. He said, “I created these for the Garden and they will act with the behaviour of the people of the Garden.” Then He stroked his back again and brought forth progeny from him. He said, “I created these for the Fire and they will act with the behaviour of the people of the Fire.” ‘A man said, ‘Messenger of Allah! Then of what value are deeds?’ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, answered, ‘When Allah creates a slave for the Garden, he makes him use the behaviour of the people of the Garden, so that he dies on one of the actions of the people of the Garden and by it He brings him into the Garden. When He creates a slave for the Fire, He makes him use the behaviour of the people of the Fire, so that he dies on one of the actions of the people of the Fire, and by it, He brings him into the Fire.’ “
reference: Book 46, Hadith 2
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 46, Hadith 2
Arabic reference: Book 46, Hadith 1627

When the child is in the mother’s womb, Allah sends out angels to write down the child’s sustenance, deeds, lifespan, and misfortunes. If the angel writes down “Apostate” under the child’s deeds then that child will grow up to become an Apostate. And it is impossible to change what Allah has written down [49] [50] [51] [52]

Sahih Al Bukhari
Hadith number: 7454
Tawheed Publications
97. Oneness, Uniqueness of Allah (Tawheed)
97/28 Chapter: “And, verily, Our Word has gone forth of old for Our slaves – the Messengers”
Narrated `Abdullah bin Mas`ud:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) the true and truly inspired, narrated to us, “The creation of everyone of you starts with the process of collecting the material for his body within forty days and forty nights in the womb of his mother. Then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period (40 days) and then he becomes like a piece of flesh for a similar period. Then an angel is sent to him (by Allah) and the angel is allowed (ordered) to write four things; his livelihood, his (date of) death, his deeds, and whether he will be a wretched one or a blessed one (in the Hereafter) and then the soul is breathed into him. So one of you may do (good) deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise so much that there is nothing except a cubit between him and Paradise but then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of Hell (Fire) and (ultimately) enters Hell (Fire); and one of you may do (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of Hell (Fire) so much so that there is nothing except a cubit between him and Hell (Fire), then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (good) deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise and ultimately) enters Paradise.”
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Sahih Al Bukhari
Hadith number: 6946
Islamic Foundation Bangladesh
86/ Oneness, Uniqueness Of Allah (Tawheed)
Chapter: “And, verily, Our Word has gone forth of old for Our slaves – the Messengers”
Narrated `Abdullah bin Mas`ud:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) the true and truly inspired, narrated to us, “The creation of everyone of you starts with the process of collecting the material for his body within forty days and forty nights in the womb of his mother. Then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period (40 days) and then he becomes like a piece of flesh for a similar period. Then an angel is sent to him (by Allah) and the angel is allowed (ordered) to write four things; his livelihood, his (date of) death, his deeds, and whether he will be a wretched one or a blessed one (in the Hereafter) and then the soul is breathed into him. So one of you may do (good) deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise so much that there is nothing except a cubit between him and Paradise but then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of Hell (Fire) and (ultimately) enters Hell (Fire); and one of you may do (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of Hell (Fire) so much so that there is nothing except a cubit between him and Hell (Fire), then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (good) deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise and ultimately) enters Paradise.”
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Sahih Al Bukhari
Hadith number: 3208
Tawheed Publications
59. Beginning of Creation
6. Chapter: The reference to angels
Narrated `Abdullah bin Mus’ud:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ), the true and truly inspired said, “(The matter of the Creation of) a human being is put together in the womb of the mother in forty days, and then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period, and then a piece of flesh for a similar period. Then Allah sends an angel who is ordered to write four things. He is ordered to write down his (i.e. the new creature’s) deeds, his livelihood, his (date of) death, and whether he will be blessed or wretched (in religion). Then the soul is breathed into him. So, a man amongst you may do (good deeds till there is only a cubit between him and Paradise and then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of the (Hell) Fire. And similarly a man amongst you may do (evil) deeds till there is only a cubit between him and the (Hell) Fire, and then what has been written for him decides his behavior, and he starts doing deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise.”
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi
Hadith number: 4
1/ Miscellaneous
Publisher: Islam house
On the authority of Abdullah ibn Masood (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), 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.” [Al-Bukhari] [Muslim]
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

The Dispute Between Adam and Moses

The dispute between Adam and Moses appears in various sahih Hadiths. More details regarding this dispute can be found by clicking here. A few Hadiths have been added here for reference. [53] [54] [55]

Sahih Muslim
Hadith number: 2652 a
46 The Book of Destiny
(2) Chapter: The Debate Between Adam And Musa (Peace And Blessings Of Allah Be Upon Them)
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (way peace be upon him) as saying:
There was argument between Adam and Moses. Moses said to Adam: You are our father. You did us harm and caused us to get out of Paradise. Adam said to him: You are Moses. Allah selected you (for direct conversation with you) and wrote with His own Hand the Book (Torah) for you. Despite this you blame me for an act which Allah had ordained for me forty years before He created me. Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) said:. This is how Adam came the better of Moses and Adam came the better of Moses.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2652b
In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 20
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 33, Hadith 6410

Sahih Muslim
Hadith number: 2652 b
46 The Book of Destiny
(2) Chapter: The Debate Between Adam And Musa (Peace And Blessings Of Allah Be Upon Them)
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
There was argument between Adam and Moses, and Adam came the better of Moses. Moses said to him: You are the same Adam who misled people, and caused them to get out of Paradise. Adam said: You are the same (Moses) whom Allah endowed the knowledge of everything and selected him amongst the people as His Messenger. He said: Yes. Adam then again said: Even then you blame me for an affair which had been ordained for me before I was created.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2652b
In-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 21
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 33, Hadith 6410

Taqdir 22
Taqdir 24

Noah’s Curse

Let us now read a story narrated in the Quran. The story is set in the time period of Noah. Noah had persevered for a long time to convert the disbelievers in his region to Islam(as described in the other Islamic scriptures). Not having succeeded in his goal, Noah fell to his knees and prayed to Allah to kill all the disbelievers in a great flood, so that the only remaining people would be Noah and true believers like him. In other words, he was willing to let disbelievers die, regardless of whether they were men, women, or even children. I don’t know how a sane person can pray to kill all people including children just because they don’t believe what he says! Only a psychopath can pray for genocide! Let us read about the prayer Noah made to Allah. [56] [57]

Noah had prayed, “My Lord! Do not leave a single disbeliever on earth.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
And Noah said, “My Lord, do not leave of the deniers a single dweller in the land.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
And Noah said, “My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant.
— Saheeh International
Noah said: “My Lord, do not leave out of these unbelievers even a single dweller on earth,
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
And Noah said: My Lord! Leave not one of the disbelievers in the land.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
And Noah, said: “O my Lord! Leave not of the Unbelievers, a single one on earth!
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

For if You spare ˹any of˺ them, they will certainly mislead Your servants, and give birth only to ˹wicked˺ sinners, staunch disbelievers.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Indeed, if You leave them, they will misguide your servants and beget none but wicked relentless deniers.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
Indeed, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and not beget except [every] wicked one and [confirmed] disbeliever.
— Saheeh International
for certainly if You should leave them (alive), they will mislead Your servants, and will beget none but sinners and utter unbelievers.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
If Thou shouldst leave them, they will mislead Thy slaves and will beget none save lewd ingrates.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
“For, if Thou dost leave (any of) them, they will but mislead Thy devotees, and they will breed none but wicked ungrateful ones.
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

Noah prayed for the destruction of all disbelievers on the chance that their children would themselves grow up to become disbelievers. These verses are reminiscent of Hitler’s ideology during World War II, or that of Yahyah Khan from during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. Both Hitler and Yahyah Khan advocated for the deaths of every single Jew and every single Bangladeshi respectively, and both desired that no child would grow up to oppose them. Can we say with absolute certainty whether a child will definitely grow up to be good or bad? Can we advocate for the death of children based on the presumption that they might grow up as immoral? Islamic terrorists have tried to kill me multiple times, which is a commonplace occurrence for atheists in Bangladesh. Yet, I have never wished for the deaths of Muslims just because they might give birth to more Muslims. If someone commits a crime, I can ask for evidence of their crimes and advocate for their punishment. But I cannot, and will not advocate for the genocide of an entire group of people. Clearly, all Muslims are not terrorists; there are undoubtedly a lot of good people who are Muslims, whether they are children, adults, men, women or even physically and mentally disabled. Just as the killing of Muslim children in Kashmir and Palestine is immoral, so too is the genocide of disbelievers under the excuse that they will give birth to more disbelievers.

Now let’s read another incident from the life of Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet could not bring uncle Abu Talib to the path of Islam despite many efforts. Then Allah sent down a verse and told Prophet Muhammad that only Allah is the owner of guidance. It is not possible for a human being to guide someone unless Allah wills to guide him. Let’s read the verse [58]

You surely cannot guide whoever you like ˹O Prophet˺, but it is Allah Who guides whoever He wills, and He knows best who are ˹fit to be˺ guided.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Indeed, yousg cannot guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills, and He knows better of those who are guided.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
Indeed, [O Muḥammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.
— Saheeh International
(O Prophet), you cannot grant guidance to whom you please. It is Allah Who guides those whom He will. He knows best who are amenable to guidance.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
Lo! thou (O Muhammad) guidest not whom thou lovest, but Allah guideth whom He will. And He is Best Aware of those who walk aright.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
It is true thou wilt not be able to guide every one, whom thou lovest; but Allah guides those whom He will and He knows best those who receive guidance.
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

It is also stated many times in the Qur’an that Allah is the one who guides and leads people astray [14] [15]

Whoever Allah guides is truly guided. But whoever He leaves to stray, you will never find for them a guiding mentor.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Whomever Allah guides is the(truly) guided one, but whomever He leads astray—for him yousg will find no guiding guardian.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
He whom Allāh guides is the [rightly] guided, but he whom He sends astray – never will you find for him a protecting guide.
— Saheeh International
Whomsoever Allah guides, he alone is led aright; and whomsoever Allah lets go astray, you will find for him no guardian to direct him.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
He whom Allah guideth, he indeed is led aright, and he whom He sendeth astray, for him thou wilt not find a guiding friend.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
He whom Allah, guides is rightly guided; but he whom Allah leaves to stray,– for him wilt thou find no protector to lead him to the Right Way.
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

Whoever Allah guides is truly guided. And whoever He leaves to stray, they are the ˹true˺ losers.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Whomever Allah guides is the guided one, and whomever He misguides—those1are the losers.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
Whoever Allāh guides – he is the [rightly] guided; and whoever He sends astray – it is those who are the losers.
— Saheeh International
He whom Allah guides, he alone is rightly guided; and he whom Allah lets go astray – it is they who are the loser.’
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
He whom Allah leadeth, he indeed is led aright, while he whom Allah sendeth astray – they indeed are losers.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
Whom Allah doth guide,– he is on the right path: whom He rejects from His guidance,– such are the persons who perish.
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

Now tell me, after reading verses 26-27 of Surah Nuh and verse 56 of Surah Qasas, does any question arise in your mind? Think honestly, do no questions come to mind? If Allah did not guide the disbelievers at the time of Noah, where would they have gotten guidance from? And, on top of that, where is the logic in being subject to genocide as a punishment by Allah, for the “crime” of being forsaken by the very same Allah who forsook them and did not guide them in the first place?

Why Does Allah’s Throne Tremble?

It is known from the hadith that Allah was so saddened by the death of one of the Prophet’s companion. However, the question is, if Allah knows about events in the future with absolute certainty, then why would the throne of Allah shake at someone’s death? Since we human beings, do not know the future, it is natural for us to be saddened by the death of someone we know. But for Allah, who himself has decided who will die when and how, has no reason to tremble in his throne to begin with! [59]

Sahih al-Bukhari
Hadith number: 3803
63 Merits of the Helpers in Madinah (Ansaar)
(12)Chapter: The merits of Sa’d bin Mu’adh
Narrated Jabir:
I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, “The Throne (of Allah) shook at the death of Sa`d bin Mu`adh.” Through another group of narrators, Jabir added, “I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) : saying, ‘The Throne of the Beneficent shook because of the death of Sa`d bin Mu`adh.”
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 3803
In-book reference : Book 63, Hadith 28
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 58, Hadith 147

The Importance of a Level Playing Field

The most important thing in any examination or election is whether all students or candidates are afforded equal opportunity. If the examiner or election commissioner interferes, or helps in any way, or writes down the answers on behalf of the students, gives more time or hints, or favors a specific candidate as their nominee, then it cannot be considered a valid examination under any circumstances. Or, if nepotism exists even in the slightest, it also cannot be considered a valid test. Or if the Election Commission seals the ballot box to favor a specific candidate during the election, then that is injustice as it is unfair to the other candidates. It must be understood such tests and examinations have no legitimacy. The problem is, according to Islam, the claim is that this world and this life of ours is one big examination. The question is, are all candidates afforded equal opportunity in this exam center?

Who led Satan astray?

It is very clearly stated in the Qur’anic verses that after the creation of Adam, Allah cursed Satan for not prostrating before Adam as per Allah’s instructions. After that, Satan was cursed by Allah and branded as a devil. Satan’s job is to mislead others to do bad things. However, prior to Allah’s curse, there was no such thing as Satan. So, who misled Satan to begin with? For, prior to Satan being branded as a devil cursed devil, there was no such thing as “Satan” to mislead anyone. Let’s read a verse of the Qur’an in this regard, from which we can get some idea about Satan’s own point of view. [60]

He said, “For leaving me to stray I will lie in ambush for them on Your Straight Path.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
He said, “So because You have deluded me, I will most surely waylay them on Your straight path.
— Fadel Soliman, Bridges’ translation
[Satan] said, “Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them [i.e., mankind] on Your straight path.
— Saheeh International
Satan said: ‘Since You have led me astray, I shall surely sit in ambush for them on Your Straight Path.
— Tafheem-ul-Quran – Abul Ala Maududi
He said: Now, because Thou hast sent me astray, verily I shall lurk in ambush for them on Thy Right Path.
— English Translation (Pickthall)
He said: “Because thou hast thrown me out of the way, lo! I will lie in wait for them on thy straight way:
— English Translation (Yusuf Ali)

What Makes A Prophet?

An important question that arises is whether Muhammad became a prophet by virtue of his own merit, intelligence, and ability or whether his prophethood was predetermined; whether from before his birth, since his childhood or before Allah even created the whole universe? According to the Sahih Hadith, Muhammad did not become a prophet by virtue of his actions. Rather, his prophethood was predetermined. The angel Gabriel (Jibraeel) came down to the earth cleansed Muhammad’s heart, thereby freeing him from all sin when he was still a child. This is because Muhammad was born to be the last prophet. However, Allah has never afforded such an opportunity for common people like you or me. Just think: if Gabriel had come down and cleansed your heart, you too, would never commit any sin. Any exam has to provide equal opportunity to all it’s candidates, because equity is impossible without a level playing field. however, it is clearly shown that there is no such thing as a level playing field in Allah’s test–the test called “life” according to Islam. And in this “test” Allah the Almighty does whatever he wills. Muhammad was chosen to be a prophet, either when he was still a child, or before the creation of this universe. If that is the case, Muhammad became a prophet without proving his worth through his actions, merit, intelligence, or ability. Muhammad became a Prophet only because Allah wanted to make him prophet; in other words, Muhammad’s prophethood was predetermined and not a result of Muhammad’s self-worth. I have no chance of becoming a prophet, no matter how well I do, or how hard I work. This means, that not all the candidates are afforded equal opportunity in this “test” called life. Allah’s will, rather than our own actions is the key factor here.

We see many people occupying positions of power and privilege all across the world. For example, being the Secretary General of the United Nations is not an easy task. Despite the difficulty of attaining such a position of responsibility, it is nevertheless possible for a normal person to reach that position, given the application of effort and hard work. Think about an army General, or the CEO of Google or NASA, or working in a big company like in Apple. All of these positions require education, talent, qualifications, and most importantly, merit. The question is, what qualifications are needed to become a prophet? Is this position determined on the basis of merit, or does Allah decide in advance that some random camel-herder from the desert is fit to be a prophet? For instance, in ancient Greece, philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle or the later Hypatia, left evidence of their uniqueness through their quality, work, ability, and talent. Their merit has been immortalized throughout the ages. Humankind is indebted to such people as philosophers, scientists and thinkers. However, in what sense can Muhammad be called a “prophet?” What makes a prophet?

If Allah had chosen Abu Lahab to be the last prophet when he was a child, then it would not have been possible for Abu Lahab to commit any sin. So it is clear that none of the candidates are afforded equal opportunity in this “exam” or rather, in this life. Allah does as he wills and the will of God is not dependent on human actions, but only on his will. Let us read these two hadiths side by side and try to understand when Abu Lahab and Prophet Muhammad’s Taqdir were written. [61] [62]

Jami` at-Tirmidhi
Hadith number: 3609
49 Chapters on Virtues
(1.00) Chapter: What Has Been Related About The Virtue Of The Prophet (SAW)
Narrated Abu Hurairah:
“They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)! When was the Prophethood established for you?’ He said: ‘While Adam was between (being) soul and body.'”
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3609
In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 5
English translation: Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3609

Jami` at-Tirmidhi
Hadith number: 2155
32 Chapters On Al-Qadar
Abdul-Wahid bin Sulaim narrated:
“I arrived in Makkah and met ‘Ata bin Abi Rabah. I said to him: ‘O Abu Muhammad! The people of Al-Basrah speak about Al-Qadar.’ He said: ‘O my son! Do you recite the Quran?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Then recite Az-Zukhruf to me.'” He said: ‘So I recited: Ha Mim. By the manifest Book. Verily, We have made it a Qur’an in Arabic that you may be able to understand. And verily, it is in the Mother of Book with Us, indeed exalted, full of wisdom. Then he said: ‘Do you know what Mother of Books is?’ I said: ‘Allah and His Messenger know better.’ He said:’It is a book that Allah wrote before He created the Heavens, and before He created the earth. In it, it is (written): Fir’awn is among the inhabitants of the Fire, and in it is: Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab, and perish he!’Ata said: ‘I met Al-Walid the son of ‘Ubadah bin As-Samit the Companion of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and asked him:’What was your father’s admonition when he died?” He said:”He called me and said: ‘O my son ! Have Taqwa of Allah, and know that you will never have Taqwa of Allah until you believe in Allah, and you believe in Al-Qadar- all of it-its good and its bad. If you die upon other than this you shall enter the Fire. Indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) saying: “Verily the first of what Allah created was the Pen. So He said: ‘Write.’ It said : ‘What shall I write?’ He said : ‘Write Al-Qadar, what it is , and what shall be, until the end.'”
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2155
In-book reference: Book 32, Hadith 23
English translation: Vol. 4, Book 6, Hadith 2155

Now let us read another hadith, where it is understood that the Prophet’s heart was cleansed by Allah by sending an angel. If this was done for Abu Lahab, Abu Lahab could also go to heaven or be the last prophet, isn’t it? [63]

Sahih Muslim
Hadith number: 162 c
The Book of Faith
1. The Book of Faith
(74)Chapter: The night journey on which the messenger of Allah (saws) was taken up into the heavens and the prayers were enjoined
Anas b. Malik reported that Gabriel came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) while he was playing with his playmates. He took hold of him and lay him prostrate on the ground and tore open his breast and took out the heart from it and then extracted a blood-clot out of it and said:
That was the part of Satan in thee.
And then he washed it with the water of Zamzam in a golden basin and then it was joined together and restored to it place. The boys came running to his mother, i. e. his nurse, and said: Verily Muhammad has been murdered. They all rushed toward him (and found him all right) His color was changed, Anas said. I myself saw the marks of needle on his breast.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih
Reference: Sahih Muslim 162c
In-book reference: Book 1, Hadith 318
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 1, Hadith 311

The Prophet’s Nepotism And Injustice

The Prophet Muhammad spread the good news of Heaven to many in his family. Additionally, Muhammad proclaimed many in his family as chiefs and leaders in Heaven. Apart from being born into the Prophet’s family by luck, in what respect are they better than all the rest people of the world, that they are given this special status? What have they have done for the benefit of mankind? Nevertheless, the Prophet declared his own daughter Fatimah as the leader of all women in Heaven. Did she ever accomplish anything greater than Maria Curie, Rosa Parks or Simone de Beauvoir? Or Hypatia, or Begum Rokeya? What has Fatima, the daughter of the prophet accomplished in her life? Under what criteria was she chosen to be the leader of all women in heaven? Perhaps, being the daughter of the Prophet is the only qualification needed to be the leader of all women. [64] [65]

Chapter: The virtues of relatives of Allah’s messenger (SAW) and the merits of Fatima (RA), the daughter of the prophet, and the Prophet (PBUH) said, Fatima (RA) is the chief of the women in Paradise.

Taqdir 26

Not only that, the two grandsons of the Prophet Muhammad, Hasan and Hussain have also been declared as the leaders of the youth of Heaven [66]

Jami` at-Tirmidhi
Hadith number: 3768
Chapters on Virtues
49. Chapters on Virtues
(31)Chapter: The Virtues of Al-Hasan And Al-Husain, May Allah Be Pleased With Them Both
Narrated Abu Sa’eed:
that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Al-Hasan and Al-Husain are the chiefs of the youths of Paradise.”
Hadith Authenticity : Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3768
In-book reference: Book 49, Hadith 167
English translation: Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3768

If Abu Lahab or Abu Jahal had been born in the family of the Prophet, either as the son of the Prophet, or as the son of Fatima, then they too could have been leaders in Heaven. Or even the boy Khizir who was killed brutally (discussed in the next chapter). If you or I were the grandson of the Prophet, then we would have gone to Heaven as leaders. What is the reason for the Prophet’s nepotism? After all, when the children of politicians gain power absent merit, we call that nepotism. This is an old custom of the aristocracy which allowed the unqualified to inherit power and privilege. Some people are rich just because they were born into a rich family. Can this be called the “justice” of Allah?

Sinners by Birth?

According to the Prophet Muhammad, if the children of Muslim believers die when they are young, they will follow their parents into Heaven. However, the children of polytheists will be sent to hell simply on the basis of the religious beliefs of their parents. They will be condemned to hell despite not having done anything! [67] [68]

Mishkat al-Masabih
Hadith Number: 111
Chapter: Belief in the Divine Decree
Section: Faith
‘A’isha said:
I asked, “Messenger of God, what happens to the offspring of believers?’’ He replied, “They are joined to their parents.” I asked, “Although they have done nothing, messenger of God” lie replied, “God knows best what they were doing.” I asked, “What happens to the offspring of polytheists?” He replied, “They are joined to their parents.” I asked, “Although they have done nothing?” He replied, “God knows best what they were doing.”
Abu Dawud transmitted it.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Mishkat al-Masabih
Section: Faith
Chapter: Belief in the Divine Decree – Section 2(4b)
‘A’isha said:
I asked, “Messenger of God, what happens to the offspring of believers?’’ He replied, “They are joined to their parents.” I asked, “Although they have done nothing, messenger of God” lie replied, “God knows best what they were doing.” I asked, “What happens to the offspring of polytheists?” He replied, “They are joined to their parents.” I asked, “Although they have done nothing?” He replied, “God knows best what they were doing.”
Abu Dawud transmitted it.
Reference: Mishkat al-Masabih 111
In-book reference: Book 1, Hadith 104

According to a hadith of the Sahih Muslim Sharif, where explanations of Qur’anic verses can be found, a man named Khizir once killed a boy for no reason. When Khizir was questioned about his crime, he casually replied that the boy was a sinner (kafir) by birth. The boy was killed before he had even committed any sins, and before he had the opportunity to encourage his parents to commit sins. Khizir knew in his heart that this boy would grow up to disbelieve Islam, or disobey Allah and would later force his parents to commit evil deeds. Keep in mind that that boy had not committed any crime up to that moment! He was killed before committing any crime, and without any trial, witnesses or evidence. This is depicted in the Hadith as a moral and noble act! How can anyone be punished for what he did not do?

And what about that boy? According to the Islamic scriptures, will he go to hell or heaven? After all, he did not commit any crimes and was killed brutally by Khizir. But iff that boy was born as a disbeliever or as a sinner, then he will surely be sent to hell. What kind of judgment is that! Allah created him as an infidel or as a sinner, and then had him killed by Khizir for no apparent reason, and again without any evidence of a crime. Yet, despite all of that, Allah will send him to hell in the name of a “perfect” and “divine” justice. Let us read the relevant hadiths [69] [70]

Sahih Muslim
Hadith Number: 2662a
The Book of Destiny
46 The Book of Destiny
(6)Chapter: The Meaning Of “Every Child Is Born In A State Of Fitrah” And The Ruling On The Dead Children Of The Disbelievers And Of The Muslims.
Ubayy b. Ka’b reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
The young man whom Khadir killed was a non-believer by his very nature and had he survived he would have involved his parents in defiance and unbelief.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih
Reference: Sahih Muslim 2662a
In-book reference: Book 46, Hadith 45
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 33, Hadith 6434

Sahih Muslim
Hadith number: 2380 c
The Book of Virtues
43 The Book of Virtues
(46)Chapter: The Virtues Of Al-Khadir, Peace Be Upon Him
Ubayy b. Ka’b narrated to us that he had heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
Moses had been delivering sermons to his people. And he made this remark: No person upon the earth has better knowledge than I or nothing better than mine. Thereupon Allah revealed to him: I know one who is better than you (in knowledge) or there is a person on the earth having more knowledge than you. Thereupon he said: My Lord, direct me to him. It was said to him: Keep a salted fish as a provision for journey. The place where that fish would be lost (there you will find that man). So he set forth and a young slave along with him until they came to a place Sakhra. but he did not find any clue. So he proceeded on and left that young man there. The fish began to stir in water and the water assumed the form of an ark over the fish. The young man said: I should meet Allah’s Apostle (peace be upon him) and inform him, but he was made to forget and when they had gone beyond that place, he (Moses) said to the young man: Bring breakfast. We have been exhausted because of the journey, and he (Moses) was not exhausted until he had crossed that (particular) place (where he had) to meet Khadir, and the youth was reminded and said: Did you not see that as we reached Sakhra I forgot the fish and it is satan alone who has made me forgetful of it’? It is strange that he has been able to find way in the ocean too. He said: This is what we sought for us. They returned retracing their steps, and he (his companion) pointed to him the location (where) the fish (had been lost). Moses began to search him there. He suddenly saw Khadir wrapped in a cloth and lying on his back. He said to him: As-Salamu-‘Alaikum. He removed the cloth from his face and said: Wa ‘Alaikum-us-Salam! Who are you? He said: I am Moses. He said: Who Moses? He said: Moses Of Bani Isra’il. He said: What brought you here? He said: I have come so that you may teach me what you have been taught of righteousness. He said: You shall have to bear with me, and how can you have patience about a thing of which you have no comprehensive knowledge? You will not have patience when you see me doing a thing I have been ordered to do. He said: If Allah pleases, you will find me patient, nor shall I disobey you in aught. Khadir said: If you follow me, don’t ask me about anything until I explain it to you. So they went on until they embarked upon a boat. He (Khadir) made a hole in that. Thereupon he (Moses) said: You have done this so that you may drown the persons sitting in the boat. You have done something grievous. Thereupon he said: Did I not tell you that you will not be able to bear with me? Thereupon he (Moses) said: Blame me not for what I forgot and be not hard upon me for what I did. (Khadir gave him another chance.) So they went on until they reached a place where boys were playing. He went to one of them and caught hold’of one (apparently) at random and killed him. Moses (peace be upon him) felt agitated and said: You have killed an innocent person not guilty of slaying another. You have done something aboininable. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: May Allah have mercy upon us and Moses. Had he shown patience he would have seen wonderful things, but fear of blame, with respect to his companion, seized him and he said: If I ask anything after this, keep not company with me. You will then have a valid excuse in my case, and had he (Moses) shown patience he would have seen many wonderful things. He (the narrator) said: Whenever he (the Holy Prophet) made mention of any Prophet, he always said: May there be mercy of Allah upon us and upon my brother so and so. They, however, proceeded on until they came to the inhabitants of a village who were very miserly. They went to the meeting places and asked for hospitality but they refused to show any hospitality to them. They both found in that village a wall which was about to fall. He (Khadir) set it right. Thereupon he (Moses) said: If you so liked. you could get wages for it. Thereupon he said: This is the partince, of ways between me and you, and, taking hold of his cloth, he said: Now I will explain to you the real significance (of all these acts) for which you could not show patience. As for the boat, it belonged to the poor people working on the river and I intended to damage it for there was ahead of them (a king) who seized boats by force. (When he came) to catch hold of it he found it a damaged boat, so he spared it (and later on) it was set right with wood. So far as the boy is concerned, he has been, by very nature, an unbeliever, whereas his parents loved him very much. Had he grown up he would have involved them in wrongdoing and unbelief, so we wished that their Lord should give them in its place one better in purity and close to mercy. And as for the wall it belonged to two orphan boys in the city and there was beneath it a (treasure) belongin to them,… up to the last verse.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 2380c
In-book reference: Book 43, Hadith 223
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 30, Hadith 5865

Abu Lahab’s Predetermined Future

Allah wrote down a Qur’anic verse regarding the fall of Abu Lahab prior to the creation of the universe, which goes as follows- [71]

May the hands of Abū Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he.
His wealth will not avail him or that which he gained.
He will [enter to] burn in a Fire of [blazing] flame
And his wife [as well] – the carrier of firewood.
Around her neck is a rope of [twisted] fiber.
— Saheeh International

However, if indeed Allah has written down such a verse prior to the birth of Abu Lahab (as is proven by authentic, Sahih Hadiths), then it would not have possible for Abu Lahab to accept Islam and become a believer under any circumstances whatsoever. This is because, if Abu Lahab had accepted Islam after the revelation of this Surah, then this very Surah that has been written down by Allah would have been proven false! Undoubtedly, Abu Lahab was discriminated against by Allah, because Abu Lahab could have chosen not to commit any sins. If Abu Lahab had been given free will, then he would have time until his death to redeem himself. But by revealing this verse, Allah closed all doors for him. This is because Allah was not interested in the redemption of Abu Lahab. [62]

Jami` at-Tirmidhi
Hadith number: 2155
32 Chapters On Al-Qadar
Abdul-Wahid bin Sulaim narrated:
“I arrived in Makkah and met ‘Ata bin Abi Rabah. I said to him: ‘O Abu Muhammad! The people of Al-Basrah speak about Al-Qadar.’ He said: ‘O my son! Do you recite the Quran?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Then recite Az-Zukhruf to me.'” He said: ‘So I recited: Ha Mim. By the manifest Book. Verily, We have made it a Qur’an in Arabic that you may be able to understand. And verily, it is in the Mother of Book with Us, indeed exalted, full of wisdom. Then he said: ‘Do you know what Mother of Books is?’ I said: ‘Allah and His Messenger know better.’ He said:’It is a book that Allah wrote before He created the Heavens, and before He created the earth. In it, it is (written): Fir’awn is among the inhabitants of the Fire, and in it is: Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab, and perish he!’Ata said: ‘I met Al-Walid the son of ‘Ubadah bin As-Samit the Companion of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and asked him:’What was your father’s admonition when he died?” He said:”He called me and said: ‘O my son ! Have Taqwa of Allah, and know that you will never have Taqwa of Allah until you believe in Allah, and you believe in Al-Qadar- all of it-its good and its bad. If you die upon other than this you shall enter the Fire. Indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) saying: “Verily the first of what Allah created was the Pen. So He said: ‘Write.’ It said : ‘What shall I write?’ He said : ‘Write Al-Qadar, what it is , and what shall be, until the end.'”
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2155
In-book reference: Book 32, Hadith 23
English translation: Vol. 4, Book 6, Hadith 2155

What About The Murdered Children?

Prophet Muhammad said that those among the polytheists who buried their daughters alive will go to hell. Additionally, all the children of the polytheists who were buried alive, and who had committed no sin, will also be sent to Hell. What was the crime of all those innocent children? There can be no justification for such a punishment. [72] [73]

Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith number: 4642
35. Sunnah
Section: 18. About the children of the polytheists.
‘Amir reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying :
The woman who buries alive her new-born girl and the girl who is buried alive both will go to Hell. This tradition has also been transmitted by Ibn Mas’ud from the Prophet (May peace be upon him) to the same effect through a different chain of narrators.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih

Sunan Abi Dawud
Hadith number: 4717
42. Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah)
(1694) Chapter: The Offspring Of Polytheists
‘Amir reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying :
The woman who buries alive her new-born girl and the girl who is buried alive both will go to Hell. This tradition has also been transmitted by Ibn Mas’ud from the Prophet (May peace be upon him) to the same effect through a different chain of narrators.
Hadith Authenticity: Sahih (Al-Albani)
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 4717
In-book reference: Book 42, Hadith 122
English translation: Book 41, Hadith 4699

Conclusion

In light of all these Quranic verses and authentic hadiths, it can be said with certainty that according to Islam, all events and actions that transpire across existence are the divine will of Allah. Allah had determined the course of all events prior to the creation of Adam. Through Adam, Allah wanted to establish humankind on earth. Satan deceived Adam as part of Allah’s larger plan; a deception that transpired according to Allah’s will. Additionally, anything determined by Allah cannot be changed under any circumstances. Whatever Allah wills comes to pass, and that which Allah does not will cannot happen and will never transpire. For example, it is not possible for those whose hearts have been sealed by Allah to become believers even if they wanted to. And those who have been guided by Allah cannot go astray even if they wanted to. Additionally, Allah acts through human behavior and employs certain people to commit “good” deeds and certain people to commit “bad deeds.” Everything predetermined and under the control of Allah, and nothing can occur without Allah’s will. Therefore, if all the above Quranic verses and Hadiths are accepted, the entire concept of free will or freedom of choice appears to be nothing more than a cruel joke on humanity by Allah.

Or, they could be understood as contradictory ideas, created by an Arabian warlord who only wanted to fool innocent people through greed and fear.

English Translation and Editing: Subaltern


তথ্যসূত্র

  1. Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2155 []
  2. Jami at-Tirmidhi, Vol. 4, Darus salam publications, page: 216, 217 []
  3. Mishkat al-Masabih 115 []
  4. Mishkat al-Masabih 116 []
  5. Surah At-Takwir, Verse 29 []
  6. Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 7 []
  7. Surah Al-Qamar, Verse 49 []
  8. Surah Al-Hadid, Verse 22 []
  9. Surah Al-Qasas, Verse 68 []
  10. Surah Ibrahim, Verse 27 []
  11. Surah Al-Imran, Verse 6 []
  12. Surah Al-An’am, Verse 112 []
  13. Surah Al-Furqan, Verse 2 []
  14. Surah Al-Kahf, Verse 17 [][]
  15. Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 178 [][]
  16. Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 30 []
  17. The Clear Quran []
  18. Tafseer Ibn Kathir (English, 114 Surah’s Complete) []
  19. Surah Al-Mujadila, Verse 10 []
  20. Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith number: 2133 []
  21. Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Hadith number: 2136 []
  22. Al ‘Aqeedah at-Tahawiyyah, Ibn Abi’l ‘Izz al-Hanafi, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Higher Education, Part 2, page: 194 []
  23. Mishkat al-Masabih 2328 []
  24. Sunan Abu Dawud (Tahqeeq by Albani), Allama Albani academy, Hadith number: 4703 []
  25. Sunan Abu Dawud – English, Vol. 5, Dar Al-kotob al-ilmiyah publication, page 250 []
  26. Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4703 []
  27. Mishkat al-Masabih, Hadith number: 95 []
  28. English Translation of Mishkat Sharah – Mazahir i Haq, vol.1, page 134 []
  29. Sunan Abi Dawud, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Hadith number: 4630 []
  30. Sahih Al Bukhari, Tawheed Publications, Hadith number: 6596 []
  31. Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith number: 6596 []
  32. Sunan Abi Dawud, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Hadith number: 4539 []
  33. Sahih Muslim, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Hadith number: 6852 []
  34. Sahih Muslim, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Hadith number: 6853 []
  35. Sahih Muslim, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Hadith number: 6854 []
  36. Sahih Muslim, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Hadith number: 6513 []
  37. Sahih Muslim, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Hadith number: 6512 []
  38. Sahih Muslim, Hadith academy, Hadith number: 6646 []
  39. Sunan Abi Dawud (Tahqeeq by Albani), Hadith number: 2152 []
  40. Mishkat al-Masabih, Hadith number: 86 []
  41. Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith Number: 82 []
  42. Sunan Abi Dawud (Tahqeeq by Albani), Hadith number: 4713 []
  43. Mishkat al-Masabih, Hadith number: 113 []
  44. Sahih Muslim, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Hadith number: 6507 []
  45. English Translation of Mishkat Sharah – Mazahir i Haq, Vol.1, page: 125, 126 []
  46. Sahih Hadis Qudsi, Hadith number: 123 []
  47. Muwatta Malik, Hadith number: 1660 []
  48. Muwatta Malik []
  49. Sahih Al Bukhari, Tawheed Publications, Hadith number: 7454 []
  50. Sahih Al Bukhari, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Hadith number: 6946 []
  51. Sahih Al Bukhari, Tawheed Publications, Hadith number: 3208 []
  52. Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi, Hadith number: 4 []
  53. Sahih Muslim, Hadith number: 2652 a []
  54. Sahih Muslim, Hadith number: 2652 b []
  55. Sahih Muslim – Arabic-English, Vol.7, page 25, 26 []
  56. Surah Nuh, Verse 26[]
  57. Surah Nuh, Verse 27 []
  58. Surah Al-Qasas, Verse 56 []
  59. Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith number: 3803 []
  60. Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 16 []
  61. Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith number: 3609 []
  62. Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith number: 2155 [][]
  63. Sahih Muslim, Hadith number: 162 c []
  64. Sahih Al Bukhari, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Hadith number: ৩৪৪৭ []
  65. Sahih Al Bukhari 9 Volumes: volume 1 to 9 English and Arabic []
  66. Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith number: 3768 []
  67. Mishkat al-Masabih, Hadith Number: 111 []
  68. Mishkat al-Masabih, Hadith Number: 111 []
  69. Sahih Muslim Hadith Number: 2662a []
  70. Sahih Muslim, Hadith number: 2380 c []
  71. Surah Al-Masad []
  72. Sunan Abi Dawud, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Hadith number: 4642 []
  73. Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith number: 4717 []
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22 thoughts on “Critical Analysis of Taqdir: A Foundation of Islam

    • December 24, 2019 at 11:35 AM
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      সমস্যাটা তো এখানেই
      এক দিকে যেখানে আল্লাহ না চাইলে কিছুই হবে না। যেখানে আমি জাহান্নামী নাকি জান্নাতি তা আল্লাহ আগে থেকেই ঠিক করে রেখেছে, একজন খ্রিস্টান ঘরে জন্মানো সন্তান খ্রিস্টান ই হবে, অর্থাৎ সেই সন্তানের জাহান্নাম নিশ্চিত করে রেখেছে আল্লাহ ।

      আবার অন্য দিকে আল্লাহ বলেন যার যার পাপের ভার তার তার। অথচ আল্লাহ আগে ই ঠিক করে রেখেছে কে পাপী হবে।

      এটা কেমন বিচার হলো ? নিজের মতো নাটক সাজিয়ে নিজেই শাস্তি দেওয়া। এটা তো অন্যায় বিচার। আল্লাহ চাইলে ই সবাইকে মুসলমান বানাতে পারেন। কিন্তু তিনি তা করেননি।

      লেখকের এই article লেখার মূল উদ্দেশ্য ছিল মূলত এটাই

      Reply
  • January 3, 2020 at 5:00 PM
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    খুব সুন্দর লাগলো ধন্যবাদ জানাই আপনাকে এবং সংশয়.ডট.কম কে

    Reply
  • February 19, 2020 at 4:11 PM
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    তাকদির বিষয়ক আপনার সব সংশয়ের উত্তর এই ভিডিওটিতে বলা হয়েছে, ধন্যবাদ।
    https://youtu.be/FnqDKMBDyNo

    Reply
  • April 10, 2020 at 3:11 PM
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    pore onk kisu jante parlam
    tnx eto kosto kore sobgula akshte deuar joonooo
    agiye jak manobota
    sotto unmocito hok
    dhonnobad

    Reply
  • May 1, 2020 at 6:34 AM
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    ভাইয়া আপনাদের কন্সেপ্ট এ ব্যাপক ভুল আছে অদৃশ্য (তাকদীর) বলতে কি বোঝানো হয়েছে তার মূল কথাটাই আপনারা বুঝেন নাই।
    প্রথমত, আল্লাহ ইলমে গায়েব জানেন।
    আপনি কি করবেন না করবেন সেটা আল্লাহ জানেন।
    এটা বুঝেন না কেন!
    যে ধরেন আপনি কাফির হবেন সেটা আল্লাহ লিখে রেখেছেন বিষয়টা এমন নয়;
    বরং এমন যে আল্লাহ জানেন আপনি কাফির হবেন সেজন্যই লিখে রেখেছেন।
    এটাই তাকদীর।
    আল্লাহ ভবিষ্যৎ জানেন ধরেন আপনি ডাক্তার হলেন, সেটা আল্লাহ লিখে রেখেছেন এজন্য হয়েছেন তা নয়।
    বরং আল্লাহ আগে থেকেই জানেন আপনি ডাক্তার হবেন এজন্য ই এটা লিখা হয়েছে।
    নরমাল ব্যাপার, এত জটিলের কিছুই নাই আল্লাহ অদৃশ্য ভবিষ্যৎ জানেন তাই কি হবে না হবে সে সম্পর্কে অধিক জ্ঞাত।
    নিঃসন্দেহে আল্লাহ অদৃশ্য সম্পর্কে জানেন এবং আপনি যা করবেন সেটা আল্লাহ আগে থেকে জানেন বলেই লিখে রেখেছেন।
    সৃষ্টিকর্তাকে আমাদের মত ভাবলে তো হবে নারে ভাই।
    অবশ্যই তিনি মহাপরাক্রমশালী,মহাজ্ঞানী।
    আমি যে এখানে কমেন্ট করবো তা আল্লাহ লিখে রাখছেন বলে করছিনা বরং আমি কমেন্ট করবো সেটা আল্লাহ জানেন তাই লিখে রাখছেন।
    আপনাকে নির্দেশনা গাইডলাইন দেওয়া আছে, এরপর ও আপনি মানবেন না সেটা আল্লাহ জানেন তাই লিখে রেখেছেন।

    Reply
    • June 23, 2020 at 9:30 PM
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      ভাইয়া মাথায় কি কিছু আছে নাকি নাই,,,
      ইলমে গায়েব বলেন আর যাই বলেন না কেন,,, আমি যা করবো তা যদি আল্লাহ আগে থেকেই জানেন বা লিখে রাখেন, ধরেন-আমি একজন কে হত্যা করবো,সেটা আল্লাহ জানেন আগে থেকেই, আর লিখে রেখেছেন তকদীর হিসেবে, এখন যদি আমি কুরান পড়ে জানলাম মানুষ কে হত্যা করলে পাপ হয়, এটা জানার পর মানুষ টিকে আর হত্যা করলাম না, তাহলে কি হলো ভাই?? আল্লাহর যেটা লিখে রাখলেন সেটা তো ভুল প্রমাণিত হলো, তাই নাহ????????

      এখন আপনি যদি বলেন যে, আমার তকদীর এ যা লেখা হয়েছে সেটা আমি পরিবর্তন করতে পারবো না,তাহলে আমার ভাগ্যে যদি জাহান্নাম লেখা থাকে তাহলে যতই নামাজ পরি না কেন জান্নাতে আর আমি কোনদিন যেতে পারবো না????????????
      তাহলে ইবাদত করে লাভ কি????????????

      Reply
      • October 12, 2020 at 8:11 AM
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        Ohh bhai , seta to unader o question. Jodi kopale jahannam like take , taile ibadat kore ki lab ? ato boro post leke unara ai kothai to bujailen

        Reply
      • October 12, 2020 at 8:12 AM
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        Ohh bhai , seta to unader o question. Jodi kopale jahannam like take , taile ibadat kore ki lab ? ato boro post leke unara ai kothai to bujailen

        Reply
    • August 12, 2020 at 5:43 PM
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      ভাই আপনি পুরোটা না পড়েই লাফাচ্ছেন কেনো? মুসা আর আদমের বাদানুবাদ টা ভালো করে পড়েন, সেখানেই বুঝবেন। বোঝার ভুল টা আপনার হয়েছে, লেখকের না

      Reply
    • October 12, 2020 at 8:09 AM
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      Abal ni mia apni … akane onek gulu kuran hadis r reference deuya ache, kutau ki ai kotha lika ache je allah janten bole like rekechen , But aikane lika ache , allah kichu manush ke jahannami r kichu jannati baniyechen . ja allah agei tik kore rekechen … ki bujlen ? Jakir nayek r moto ablami charen, chaglami jakir nayek chagol kei manay , Jodi manush ja korbe ta age tekei allah janen r tar jonnei like rekechen , taile aita ato important keno ? iman r jonne important keno , muslim houyar jonne o important keno? Allah jodi janen e ki hobe, taile allah like rakben keno? allah ki bule jan naki je like rakte hobe?

      Reply
  • May 10, 2020 at 7:44 AM
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    তকদির বিষয়টা সত্যিই জটিল। এটা নিয়ে সঠিক সমাধান পাওয়া মুসকিল। এটা মতভেদপূর্ণ বিষয়, কয়েকটা মতবাদ আছে এ নিয়ে। আল্লাহ যেহেতু সৃষ্টিকর্তা এবং সৃষ্টির সময় থেকেই যদি একজন নির্দিষ্ট মানুষের ভবিষ্যৎ প্রতিটি কাজ জানেন, জান্নাত নাকি জাহান্নামে সে যাবে তাও জানেন তবে এটা পরোক্ষভাবে পূর্বনির্ধারণই হয়ে যায়। আবার পূর্ব নির্ধারিত বিষয়ের জন্য শাস্তি বা পুরষ্কার প্রদান করেও সর্বশ্রেষ্ঠ ন্যায়বিচারক হওয়াটা বিবেকের বিচারে অযৌক্তিক হয়ে যায়। কোরআনে বেশ কিছু আয়াতে এটা বুঝা যায় যে মানুষকে স্বাধীন ইচ্ছা দ্বারা আল্লাহর পছন্দ বা অপছন্দনীয় যেকোন প্রকার কাজ করার যোগ্যতা দেয়া হয়েছে, আল্লাহ ইচ্ছা করেই তাকে স্বাধীন ইচ্ছায় কাজ করার সামর্থ্য দিয়েছেন, তিনি চাইলে মানুষকে জোর পুর্বক তার পছন্দসই কাজ করাতে বাধ্য করতে পারতেন, ফলে মানুষ নিজের ইচ্ছায় কোন কাজ করলেও সেটা পরোক্ষভাবে আল্লাহর (অতাৎক্ষণিক) ইচ্ছায় হয়ে যায়, আল্লাহ সর্বশ্রেষ্ঠ ন্যায় বিচারক, এ বিষয়গুলোই মুমিনদের যথেষ্ট মনে করে স্বাভাবিক কাজকর্ম করা উচিৎ। ঐ হাদিসের সাথে একমত হয়ে বলতেছি, তকদির বা পূর্ব-নির্ধারনের আয়াতগুলো নিয়ে বেশি আলোচনা মাথা ঘামানো ঠিক নয়, কারন এতে আল্লাহর জ্ঞান, পুর্বনির্ধারন, পরিচালনা পদ্ধতি, ন্যায়বিচারক হওয়া এগুলো বিষয়ে পরিষ্কারভাবে জানা নেই এমন কথা বলা হয়ে যায়। (এ সম্পর্কিত অন্য হাদিসগুলোতে যেখানে বলা হয়েছে সবই পূর্বনির্ধারিত সেগুলোতে খুব বেশি নির্ভরশীল হওয়া ঠিক নয়, কারন হাদিসে ভুল থাকতে পারে।) কোরআনে আছে, “শয়তানতো মানুষকে নির্দেশ দেয় অশ্লীল ও মন্দ কাজের এবং আল্লাহ সম্পর্কে এমন কথা বলতে যা তোমরা জান না।” তাই আমি মনে করি, পুর্ব-নির্ধারনের আয়াতগুলো, আল্লাহর সবজান্তা হওয়া এবং ন্যায়বিচারক হওয়া এই বিষয়গুলো আমাদের জন্য ‘অস্পষ্ট আয়াত যার সঠিক ব্যাখ্যা আল্লাহই জানেন। মুমিনদের বলা উচিৎ (আমরা বুঝি বা জ্ঞানের স্বল্পতার দরুন না বুঝি) কোরআনের বাণী আল্লাহ থেকে অবতীর্ণ সত্য।’ (৩ঃ৭)

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  • May 14, 2020 at 11:15 AM
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    জনাব মহি, আমরা জানি কমলাপুর রেল স্টেশনে টিকিট বিহীন যাত্রীদের আটক বা জরিমানা করা হয়, আচ্ছা ধরুন আপনি সিলেট থেকে ঢাকায় আসবেন, আসার পথে জানতে পারলেন আজকে কমলাপুর টিকিট চেক হচ্ছে না, আবার কেউ বললো চেক হচ্ছে, তখন আপনি কি করবেন, বুদ্ধমান হলে টিকিট নিয়ে ট্রেনেই উঠবেন, কারণ যদি টিকিট চেক হয় তাহলে তো ধরা। ঠিক তেমনি ভাবে যেহেতু অনেক মহা গ্রন্থ ও মহা মানবগণ বলছেন পরকালে হিসাব হবে, তাই কিপটামি ও অলসতা না করে, টিকিট টা মানে ইসলাম ধর্মটা মেনেই পৃথিবী থেকে বিদায় নিয়েন, আর বাটন মোবাইলের বুদ্ধি/কর্মক্ষমতার সৃষ্টিজীব মানুষ হয়া, স্মার্ট বা কম্পিউটারের বুদ্ধি/কর্মক্ষমতা মাপতে গেলে কোল কিনারা পাইবেন না এটাই স্বাভাবিক!

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  • July 23, 2020 at 10:56 AM
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    কিছু ঘারত্যারা মুমিনদের জন্য:

    https://www.shongshoy.com/archives/11475 (কে জান্নাতী আর কে জাহান্নামী তা আগে থেকেই ঠিক করা)

    গ্রন্থের নামঃ সূনান আবু দাউদ (ইফাঃ)
    হাদিস নম্বরঃ [4630]
    অধ্যায়ঃ ৩৫/ সুন্নাহ
    পাবলিশারঃ ইসলামিক ফাউন্ডেশন
    পরিচ্ছদঃ ১৭. তাকদীর সম্পর্কে।
    ৪৬৩০. আবদুল্লাহ্‌ কা’নাবী (রহঃ) ……. মুসলিম ইবন জুহানী (রাঃ) থেকে বর্ণিত। তিনি বলেন, একদা এক ব্যক্তি উমার ইবন খাওাব (রাঃ)-কে এ আয়াত সম্পর্কে জিজ্ঞাসা করেনঃ
    إِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ مِنْ ظُهُورِهِمْ
    অর্থাৎ স্মরণ কর! তোমার রব আদম সন্তানের পৃষ্ঠদেশ হতে তার বংশধরকে বের করেন এবং তাদের নিজেদের সম্বন্ধে স্বীকারুক্তি গ্রহণ করেন এবং বলেনঃ আমি কি তোমাদের রব নই? তারা বলেঃ নিশ্চয়ই, আমরা সাক্ষী থাকলাম। (৭ঃ১৭২)
    রাবী বলেনঃ কা’নাবী এ আয়াত তিলাওয়াত করলে উমার (রাঃ) বলেনঃ একদা আমি রাসূলুল্লাহ সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়াসাল্লাম-কে এ আয়াত সম্পর্কে জিজ্ঞাসা করতে শুনি। জবাবে তিনি সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়াসাল্লাম বলেনঃ মহান আল্লাহ্‌ আদম (আ)-কে সৃষ্টি করার পর, তার পিঠকে স্বীয় ডান হাত দিয়ে মাসেহ করেন। ফলে অনেক আদম সন্তান সৃষ্টি হয়। এরপর তিনি বলেনঃ আমি এদের জান্নাতে জন্য সৃষ্টি করেছি। এরা জান্নাতীদের ন্যায় আমল করবে। এরপর আল্লাহ্‌ তার হাত দিয়ে আদমের পিঠকে মাসেহ করেন। ফলে তার আরো সন্তান সৃষ্টি হয়। তিনি বলেনঃ আমি এদের জাহান্নামের জন্য সৃষ্টি করেছি। তারা জাহান্নামীদের ন্যায় আমল করবে। তখন এক ব্যক্তি বলেঃ ইয়া রাসূলুল্লাহ সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়াসাল্লাম! তাহলে আমলের প্রয়োজনীয়তা কি? রাসূলুল্লাহ সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়াসাল্লাম বলেনঃ আল্লাহ্‌ তা’আলা যখন কোন বান্দাকে জান্নাতের জন্য সৃষ্টি করেন, তখন তিনি তাকে দিয়ে জান্নাতীদের আমল করিয়ে নেন। ফলে, সে ব্যক্তি জান্নাতীদের ন্যায় আমল করতে করতে মারা যায়। যদ্দরুন আল্লাহ্‌ তাকে জান্নাতে প্রবেশ করান। আর যখন তিনি কোন বান্দাকে জাহান্নামের জন্য সৃষ্টি করেন, তখন তিনি তাকে দিয়ে জাহান্নামীদের ন্যায় আমল করান। ফলে সে জাহান্নামীদের ন্যায় আমল করতে করতে মারা যায়। যদ্দরুন আল্লাহ্‌ তাকে জাহান্নামে প্রবেশ করান।
    হাদিসের মানঃ সহিহ (Sahih)

    https://www.shongshoy.com/archives/11459

    এক দিকে যেখানে আল্লাহ না চাইলে কিছুই হবে না। যেখানে আমি জাহান্নামী নাকি জান্নাতি তা আল্লাহ আগে থেকেই ঠিক করে রেখেছে, একজন খ্রিস্টান ঘরে জন্মানো সন্তান খ্রিস্টান ই হবে, অর্থাৎ সেই সন্তানের জাহান্নাম নিশ্চিত করে রেখেছে আল্লাহ ।

    আবার অন্য দিকে আল্লাহ বলেন যার যার পাপের ভার তার তার। অথচ আল্লাহ আগে ই ঠিক করে রেখেছে কে পাপী হবে।

    এটা কেমন বিচার হলো ? নিজের মতো নাটক সাজিয়ে নিজেই শাস্তি দেওয়া। এটা তো অন্যায় বিচার। আল্লাহ চাইলে ই সবাইকে মুসলমান বানাতে পারেন। কিন্তু তিনি তা করেননি

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  • January 27, 2021 at 1:46 PM
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    after reading its make me clear .

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  • November 14, 2021 at 7:17 AM
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    কি বলব এই তাকদীর নিয়ে আলোচনা করতে গিয়েই, নাস্তিক হয়ে গেছি…..
    ধন্যবাদ

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    • February 15, 2024 at 11:56 PM
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      টাইম মেশিন আবিস্কার না হওয়া পর্যন্ত তাকদীর কে সরাসরি পর্যবেক্ষণ করা সম্ভব না। আর তার প্রয়োজন আছে বলেও আমি মনে করিনা। কারন দিনশেষে আমি যা পাই তা আমার একান্তই নিজের কর্মফল। এটা কোথাও লেখা থাকুক বা নাই থাকুক- কিছুই যায় আসেনা। আমার ধারনা সৃষ্টিকর্তারও কিছুই যায় আসেনা কে তাঁকে বিশ্বাস করলো আর কে করলনা। মিথ্যা কথা না বলা আর অন্যের ক্ষতি না করা- এই দুইটি গুন সকল মানুষ রপ্ত করতে পারলে পৃথিবীতে এতো ধর্মের উদ্ভবও হতোনা।

      Reply
  • June 17, 2023 at 11:47 AM
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    অন্যদিকে বান্দা যদি তাকদীরের উপর নির্ভরশীল হয় তাহলেতো পরীক্ষা বলতে কিছু থাকেনা।

    এদুটো বিষয় আল্লামিয়া ওরফে মোহাম্মক সামঞ্জস্য করার চেষ্টা করেও স্বম্পূর্ণ ব্যার্থ হয়েছে।

    আল্লামিয়ার অবস্থা এমন যে, শ্যাম রাখি না কুল রাখি!!!

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  • June 17, 2023 at 11:53 AM
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    বান্দা যদি নিজের ইচ্ছায় সব করতে পারে তাহলে আল্লার ক্ষমতা হ্রাস পায়।

    অন্যদিকে বান্দা যদি তাকদীরের উপর নির্ভরশীল হয় তাহলেতো পরীক্ষা বলতে কিছু থাকেনা।

    এদুটো বিষয় আল্লামিয়া ওরফে মোহাম্মক সামঞ্জস্য করার চেষ্টা করেও স্বম্পূর্ণ ব্যার্থ হয়েছে।

    আল্লামিয়ার অবস্থা এমন যে, শ্যাম রাখি না কুল রাখি!!!

    Reply
  • October 7, 2023 at 10:42 PM
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    Sir I am a student(science 🔭).
    Ami Islam tag korat chai
    But Jadu ba kala Jadu ki
    Jodi upni bolan tahola Islam tag korbo
    Ami 2 year madrasa ta pora6i
    Amar family kala jadu bisus Kora na
    Kintu Amar family ka kala jadu kora hoa6i lo. Jodi nobi bola ku na taka tahola nobika kalajadu kora hoa6ilo upni amar question ta bujta para6an .
    Please reply as soon as possible…

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  • November 24, 2023 at 10:36 PM
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    (সূচিপত্র নাম্বার ৭) এইখানে একটি লাইনে লেখা আছে:-
    এবারে আসুন একটি ভেবে দেখি। এইখানে একটি শব্দটির জায়গায় একটু হবে।

    (সূচিপত্র নাম্বার ১৪.৪)এইখানে একটি লাইনে লেখা আছে:- আবার, মুশরিকদের নানালেগ বাচ্চারা তাদের পিতামাতার আমল অনুসারে জাহান্নামে যাবে। এইখানে নানালেগ শব্দটির জায়গায় নাবালেগ হবে।

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