There are countless verses and hadith confirming the predetermined nature of existence. Though I have covered this topic in detail in other books, I would like to mention some of these verses and hadith here:

“You cannot will unless Allah wills.” (Quran 76:30)

“…While it is Allah who created you and all your doings.” (Quran 37:96)

“We have created everything with its (written, programmed) qadar (fate).”(Quran 54:49)

“There is no living creature which He does not hold by its forehead (brain; the programming of the brain by the name Al-Fatir).” (Quran 11:56)

“Say: Everyone acts according to his creation program (fitrah).” (Quran 17:84)

“No calamity befalls you on earth (on your physical body and outer world) or among yourselves (your inner world) that has not already been recorded in a book (formed in the dimension of knowledge) before We bring it into being! Indeed for Allah, this is easy.

“We inform you of this in order that you don’t despair over your losses or exult (in pride) over what We have given you, for Allah does not like the boastful and the arrogant!”(Quran 57:22-23)

The words of the Rasul of Allah (saw) regarding fate and predetermination are as follows:

Muslim (2653) narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas said:

I heard the Rasul of Allah (saw) say:

“Allah wrote down the decrees of creation fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth.”

Muslim narrated that Tawus al-Yamani said: I found some of the companions of Rasulullah (saw), saying:

“Everything is by decree.”

Tawus added: I heard Abdullah ibn Umar say that Rasulullah said:

“Everything is by decree – even incapacity and ability.”

Narrated by Abu Huraira (r.a.):

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“Adam and Moses argued with each other. Moses said to Adam, ‘You are Adam, whom Allah created with His own hands and blew into from His Spirit, yet your mistake expelled us from Paradise!’ Adam said to him, ‘You are Moses, whom Allah selected as a Rasul and to whom He spoke directly; yet you blame me for a thing which had already been written in my fate before my creation?’”

Rasulullah said twice:

“So, Adam evidently prevailed over Moses.”(Sahih Bukhari Book: 55, Hadith: 621)

Abdullah (r.a.) said: “Shaqi (the unfortunate; the confined) is one who is a shaqi in his mother’s womb, and the fortunate one is he who takes lessons from others’ mistakes.”

Upon hearing this, one of the listeners went to Huzaifa (r.a.) and explained it to him, asking: “How can someone be a sinner in his mother’s womb when he hasn’t even done anything?”

Huzaifa (r.a.) replied: “Why does this surprise you? I heard Rasulullah (saw) say:

“Forty two days after conception Allah appoints an angel to the womb. This angel shapes the child and gives it eyes, ears, skin, flesh, and bones.

Then the angel asks: ‘O Allah! What should the gender of this child be?’

Allah ordains the gender, the angel records it.

Then the angel asks: ‘O Allah, how long should this child’s life span be?’

Allah ordains the life span, the angel records it.

Then the angel asks: ‘O Allah! How about its sustenance?’

Again, Allah ordains as He wishes, the angel records it.

Then the angel comes forward with the page in his hand, having not added, nor subtracted anything from it, other than what Allah has ordained.”

Anas (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“Allah appoints an angel to every womb, and the angel says, ‘O Rabb! A drop of discharge (i.e. of semen), O Rabb! A clot, O Rabb! A piece of flesh.’ And then, if Allah wishes to complete the child's creation, the angel will say. ‘O Rabb! A male or a female? O Rabb! Wretched or blessed (in religion)? What will his livelihood be? What will his age be?’ The angel writes all this while the child is in the womb of its mother.”(Bukhari, Muslim)

Ali (r.a.) reported that one day Rasulullah (saw) was sitting with a twig in his hand and he was scratching the ground. Suddenly he raised his head and said:

“There is not one amongst you who has not been allotted his seat in Paradise or Hell.”

They said: “O Rasul of Allah, then why struggle, why not let everything go and submit?” Thereupon he said:

“No, do perform good deeds, for everyone is facilitated in that for which he has been created.”

Then he recited this verse:

“As for he who gives to the needy and seeks refuge in Allah and confirms the Word of Unity, We will facilitate him toward Paradise. But as for he who withholds and considers himself free of need and denies the Word of Unity, We will facilitate him toward Hell.”(Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)

Jabir reported that Suriqa b. Malik b. Ju'shuin came and said: “Allah's Rasul, explain our religion to us (in a way) as if we have been created just now. Whatever deeds we do today, is it because of the fact they have been predetermined and written, or is it our doing that determines them?”

Thereupon he said:

“Everything has been predetermined and written.”

(Suraqa b. Malik) said: “If it is so, then what is the use of doing good deeds?”

Rasulullah said:

“Act, for everyone is facilitated what he intends to do. He who does good will be facilitated towards the good.”(Muslim, Tirmidhi)

Tirmidhi narrates:

Omar (r.a.) asked: “O Rasulullah, what do you say, are our activities created as we engage in them, or have they already been predestined?”

Rasulullah (saw) answered:

“O Hattab’s son, everyone is facilitated to carry out that which has been predestined for him. He who is from the good will strive for the good, and he who is from the bad will strive for the bad!”

Imran b. Husain (r.a.) said:

Two people from the Muzaina tribe came to Rasulullah (saw) and asked:

“O Rasulullah! Were all the activities we partook in today predestined and written before we carried them out, or were they determined and recorded after we carried them out?”

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“No, everything has been predestined and preordained. The verse in the Book of the Exalted Allah confirms this: ‘The self and the One who orders (fashions, guides) the self and shows the self how to do good and bad.’” (Quran 91:7-8)

Abdulwahid b. Sulaim (r.a.) narrates:

“I came from Mecca and met with Ata b. Abi Rahah and asked him: “O Abu Muhammad, the people in Basra are saying there is no such thing as predetermining?”

Ata said: “Dear son, do you read the Quran?”

“Yes” I replied.

“Then recite chapter Az-Zuhruf” he said.

I began to recite: “Ha-mim. By the clear Book, indeed we have made it an Arabic Quran so that you might understand. And indeed it is in the Mother of Books, in Our presence, high in dignity and full of wisdom.” (Quran 43:1-4)

Ata asked: “Do you know what the Mother of Books is?”

“Allah and His Rasul know better,” I said.

Ata continued: “It is the book that Allah wrote before He created the heavens and the earth. In it, it writes about the Pharaoh and that he is of the people of hell, and in it there is the verse ‘May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined.’”

Ata (r.a.) said: I met Al-Walid the son of ‘Ubadah bin As-Samit the companion of Rasulullah (saw) and asked him: “What was your father’s admonition when he died?” He said: “He called me and said: ‘O my son! Be wary of Allah, and know that you can never heed Allah until you believe in Allah, and you believe in Al-Qadar – all of it – its good and its bad. If you die upon a belief other than this you will go to Hell.

Indeed I heard Rasulullah (saw) saying:

“Verily the FIRST of what Allah CREATED was the Pen. Then He said to it: ‘Write.’ It said: ‘What should I write?’ He said: ‘Write Al-Qadar, what it is, and what shall be, until eternity.’”(Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud)

Abdullah b. Fairuz ad-Dailami says: “I came to Ubayy bin Ka’b and said: ‘My mind is confused regarding the topic of fate. Tell me something by which Allah will remove the doubt and confusion from my heart’ Ubayy replied: ‘If Allah were to torment everything on the earth and in the heavens, He will not be cruel, and if He were to treat everything with His mercy (Rahmah) his Mercy would be more beneficial than their current activities. If you spend gold in the name of Allah as great as the Mount Uhud yet you do not believe in destiny, and you do not believe that whatever is decreed to afflict you will inevitably afflict you and whatever is decreed not to will never afflict you, Allah will not accept your benefaction. If you die upon a belief other than this, you will go to Hell.’

Abdullah Dailami says, ‘then I went to Abdullah b. Ma’sud and he told the same thing. Then I went to Huzaifa b. Yaman and he told the same thing. Then I went to Zaid b. Sabit and he also narrated the same thing from Rasulullah (saw).’” (Abu Dawud)

Abdullah b. Amr (r.a.) narrates:

I heard Rasulullah (saw) say:

“Verily Allah created everything in darkness first, then he radiated His Nur (The Light of Knowledge that is the source and essence of everything) upon them. Those who took their share of this Nur were rightly guided; those who were deprived of this Nur deviated from the right path. This is why I say the ink with which Allah’s knowledge was written has dried, that is, everything has already been predetermined and destined, there is nothing more to write.”(Tirmidhi, Imam B. Hasan)

Abu Huraira narrates:

One day, as we were engaged in an argument about fate and destiny, Rasulullah (saw) came over. He got so angry that his cheeks went red as though pomegranate juice had spilled on them. He said:

“Is this what you have been ordered with? Is this what I have been sent to you for? When the people who came before you argued over the matters of fate they were destroyed. This, I swear to you, that you may not argue with each other, I swear to you!” (Tirmidhi)

Jabir (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“One is not considered to have faith if he does not believe in fate – with all its good and bad – and if he does not believe that what is destined to be, will be, and what is destined not to be, will never be.” (Tirmidhi)

Aisha (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“There are six people I damn, who Allah and every past Rasul also damns. They are:

Those who add things to Allah’s Book,

Those who do not confirm the reality of fate,

Those who exalt in rank the sinners who Allah degrades, and lowers in rank the pious ones who Allah honors,

Those who engage in forbidden acts in the harem of Mecca,

Those who do wrong by my family (ahl al-bayt[1]) and abandon my practices.” (Sunnah)

Ummu Habiba (r.a.) said:

“O Allah! Extend my lifespan so that I may be beneficial to my husband Muhammad (saw), my father Abu Sufyan, and my brother Muawiya.”

Whereupon Rasulullah said:

“You asked Allah for something in regards to predetermined lifespans, compulsory matters and predestined livelihood, all of which are fixed and not subject to change. Had you prayed for salvation from the torments of the grave and hellfire instead, it would have been more beneficial for you.”

Upon this, a man asked:

“O Rasulullah! Are these monkeys and swine the monkeys and swine that have been transformed (from the human state, as a punishment)?”

Rasulullah (saw) answered:

“Verily, there is not one community of people whose lineage continues after Allah destroys them. These monkeys and swine are the monkeys and swine that existed in the past.” (Muslim)

Halid Al-Hazza (r.a.) said: “I asked Hasan Basri ‘Was Adam created for the heavens or the earth?’ Hasan Basri replied: ‘For the earth’. I asked ‘and what if he hadn’t eaten from the forbidden tree?’ he said ‘that is not a possibility; he had to eat from that tree (as this was predestined)’. I said ‘can you explain the meaning of the verse “You cannot tempt [anyone] away from Him except he who is to enter the Hellfire.”‘ (Quran 37:162-163)

Hasan Basri said: “The devils cannot tempt anyone into delusion and wrongdoing other than those who are already destined by Allah to be of the people of Hell.” (Abu Dawud)

Halid Al-Hazza (r.a.) narrates from Hasan Basri:

Halid Al-Hazza enquired about the verse “for that He created them” (Quran 11:119), Hasan basri replied: “He created them for Paradise and the others for Hell.”

(Abu Dawud) Anas (r.a.) said: Rasulullah (saw) often made the prayer:

“O Allah, transformer of hearts, fix my heart stable upon the religion.”

We asked him: “O Rasulullah! We believed in you and all your teachings, do you still fear for us?” He said:

“Yes, because the hearts are in between the two fingers of Allah, He changes and shapes them as he likes.” (Tirmidhi)

Muslims says: “All the hearts of every human being is like one single heart, and it is in between the two fingers of Allah the Rahman; He changes it as He likes.”

Abu Huraira (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) says:

“Every person is born into the religion of fitrah (natural disposition). Later on he becomes a Jew, a Christian or a polytheist based on the religion of his parents. Just like a newborn animal that is so complete and perfect… do you ever see something missing?”

Abu Huraira (r.a.) said: “Read, if you like, the verse ‘So direct your face toward the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people.’” (Quran 30:30) (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud–Tirmidhi)

The tall man in Paradise is Abraham (saw). The children around him are the children who have died upon the religion of fitrah. One of the Muslims asked: “O Rasulullah (saw), are the children of the polytheists included among them?”

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“Yes, the children of the polytheists are included too.” (Bukhari)

Abu Huraira (r.a.) narrates:

They asked Rasulullah (saw) about the state of the children of the polytheists (in the hereafter), whereupon he said:

“Allah knows best how they would have turned out had they not died as children.” (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi)

Aisha (r.a.) narrates:

“A little child died and I said ‘How happy for him, he is now a sparrow amongst the sparrows of Paradise.’”

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“Do you not know that Allah created both the Paradise and the Hell. Just as He created some for the former, He also created some for the latter!”

According to another narration, he said:

“Allah created some people for Paradise; He determined this while they were still in the spine of their father. Allah also created some people for Hell, and they too were determined for this while still in the chime of their father.” (Muslim – Abu Dawud)

Aisha (r.a.) narrates:

I asked Rasulullah (saw): “O Rasulullah! What is the state of the children of the believers (in the hereafter) who have died as children?”

“They depend on their fathers” he said.

“How can that be, when they have not lived to do anything?” I asked.

“Allah knows the things they would have done had they lived” he said.

“And what about the children of the unbelievers O Rasulullah?” I asked.

“They too are dependent on their fathers” he said.

“Without having done anything?” I asked.

He said: “Allah knows best what they would have done had they lived.”(Abu Dawud)

Allah says:

“And never would We punish a community before We send them a Rasul.” (Quran 17:15)

Anas (r.a.) narrates:

A man asked: “O Rasulullah! Where is my father?”

Rasulullah (saw) said: “Your father is in Hell.”

After the man left, Rasulullah said: “Your father and my father are both in fire.”(Abu Dawud)

Zaid b. Sabit (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) was on a camel in the garden of the Najjar family when suddenly the camel got frightened and ran away, nearly causing Rasulullah (saw) to fall off. We then realized there were four or six graves in the garden. Rasulullah (saw) said: “Does anybody know who are buried here?”

“I know” said one of the men nearby.

“When did these people die?” asked Rasulullah.

“They died as polytheists in the state of duality” answered the man.

“The ummah (people) of Muhammad will be taken to account in their graves. If I knew you would not refrain from burying your deceased, I would pray to Allah to make you hear the sounds of torment coming from these graves as I am hearing them right now.” (Muslim, Nesei)

Sahl (r.a.) narrates:

A reputable wealthy man, who helped the Muslims, joined Rasulullah (saw) in battle. Looking towards him, Rasulullah (saw) said:

“Whoever wants to see a man of hell should look at this man.”

Upon this, one of us followed this wealthy man, who fought fiercely against the enemies of Islam. Eventually he was injured and to not endure the pain and die quickly he positioned his sword pointing towards his chest and leaned on the sword with all his body until the sword pierced through his chest and thus he committed suicide. The man who had followed him and saw this quickly ran back to Rasulullah (saw) and said: “I witness that you are truly the Rasul of Allah” (i.e. your verdict about this man was accurate).

“What happened?” asked Rasulullah (saw).

“You said whoever wants to see a man of hell should look at this man, while he was one of the biggest helpers of the Muslims. When you said this I understood that he was not going to die in this state. When he was injured he wanted to die quickly and so he killed himself.”

Rasulullah said:

“Indeed one who is a person of Paradise (in the knowledge of Allah) will do the things of the people of hell, and one who is a person of hell will do the things of the people of paradise, yet what counts is the things they do at the end of their life (the state in which they die).” (Bukhari)

Abdullah b. Amr (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) came with two books in his hand and asked:

“Do you know what these books are?”

We said, “We do not know Rasulullah, but if you tell us we will learn.”

Referring to the book in his right hand he said:

“This is a book written by the Rabb of the worlds (the source of the infinite meanings of the Names), it contains the names of the people of Paradise and the names of their fathers and forefathers (tribes).”

And explained the attributes of these people to the end. Then he said:

“From now till eternity, no other name will be added to this list, nor will any name be taken out of it.”

Upon this the apostles asked: “If this is a matter done and over then what is the point of doing anything?”

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“For, the people of Paradise will eventuate their lives by doing the things the people of Paradise do, while those of hell will end their lives doing the things the people of hell do.”

Then he moved his hands as though he was throwing something and added:

“Allah has ordained and destined the fates of His servants. Some will go to heaven and some will go to hell.”

Abu Huraira (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“In a time when people are believers in the morning and unbelievers by night, or unbelievers in the morning and believers by night, and when religion is sold in return of a small worldly gain, and when provocation (fitna) is like the waves of a dark night, run to good deeds!” (Muslim, Tirmidhi)

Abu Huraira (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“Prefer good deeds over seven things, for either one of these are awaiting you: poverty that strikes suddenly, wealth that leads to outrageousness, an ailment that afflicts your health, old age that makes you talk absurdly, death that comes suddenly, the Dajjal (Antichrist), or Doomsday, which is the most intense and difficult one of them all.” (Tirmidhi)

Abu Huraira (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“Run to good deeds from six things: the sun rising from the West, the Smoke, Antichrist (Dajjal), the Beast (Dabbat’ul’Ardh), from a provocation that comes (at death) or that prevents you from attending to others, or the Doomsday.”(Muslim, Imam Ahmad)

Allah says:

“Fear me, if you are of those who believe in Allah.” (Quran 3:175)

Abu Huraira (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“Hell is veiled by desire and heaven by hardship to the self.” (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi)

Abdullah (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“Heaven is closer to you than you think, and it is the same for hell.” (Bukhari, Imam Ahmad)

Abu Huraira (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“At the end of days, there will be men, who will prefer the world at the expense of their afterlife. They will cover themselves in sheepskin to seem mild, their speech will be sweeter than sugar, but their hearts will be as stiff as the hearts of wolves. In reference to them, Allah says: ‘Do they think I am unaware? Are they scorning me? I swear by my might that I will send amongst them such a distraction that it will confuse them completely!’” (Tirmidhi)

Abu Huraira (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“There is not one person who dies and does not feel regret. If he had done good deeds, he regrets not doing more, if he were a sinner, he regrets not repenting.”(Tirmidhi)

Abu Huraira (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah saw said:

“He who fears (his enemy) will travel through the night and reach his destination, finding comfort and safety. Be wary! Allah’s asset is heaven.” (Tirmidhi)

Abu Huraira (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“He who cries in fear of Allah will not enter hell until the milk goes back into the nipple from which it came out (i.e. never). The dust that has been scattered in the way of Allah will never meet with the fire of hell.” (Tirmidhi)

Hani (r.a.) narrates:

When Uthman (r.a.) stood near a grave he would cry until his beard was soaked. Someone once said to him “You do not weep when you hear about heaven and hell but you cry in front of this grave”. He replied: “Rasulullah (saw) said:

‘The grave is the first station of the afterlife, if one is able to pass this station the rest of his journey will be easier, but if one cannot pass this station, the rest of his journey will be more difficult.’

I have never encountered a scene more frightening than the grave.” (Tirmidhi)

Abu Zarr (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“I see what you see not and hear what you hear not. The sky groaned and very rightly so, for there is not a four-finger space in which an angel is not prostrating upon its forehead. I swear by Allah, if you had known what I know you would have laughed less and cried more, you would have left seeking pleasure from your wives in bed and dashed outside in search of Allah’s savior. (Rather than witnessing this) I would have liked to be a tree (cut-down and no longer existent) instead!” (Tirmidhi)

Allah says:

“He who places his trust in Allah, Allah will be sufficient for him.”(Quran 65:3)

Ibn Abbas (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“Seventy thousand people from my people (ummah) will go to Paradise unquestioned. These are: those who don’t seek prayer for their sick, those who do not believe in bad-luck, and those who place their trust in Allah.”(Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi)

Omar (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“Had you fully placed your trust in Allah you would have found your sustenance easily, like the birds who fly out hungry in the morning and fly back to their nests full by night.” (Tirmidhi, Imam Ahmad, Hakim)

Anas (r.a.) narrates:

A man asked Rasulullah (saw): “O Rasulullah, shall I tie my camel first then trust in Allah, or shall I just trust in Allah without tying my camel?”

Rasulullah (saw) answered: “Tie your camel first, then trust in Allah.” (Tirmidhi)

Abdullah (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“He who is poverty stricken and seeks the help of people shall never find the help he seeks. He who is poverty stricken and seeks the help of Allah, Allah will attend to his need sooner or later, or allow him a quick death to save him from poverty.” (Tirmidhi)

Anas (r.a.) narrates:

“There were two brothers, one of them didn’t work. Instead, he attended the meetings of Rasulullah (saw), while the other worked for a livelihood. When the brother who worked complained about the brother that didn’t work, Rasulullah (saw) told him: ‘Perhaps you are earning for the sake of your brother.’” (Tirmidhi)

Muawiya wrote to Aisha (r.a.): “Please send me a letter with some short advice.”

Aisha (r.a.) wrote to him:

“Peace be to you! I had heard Rasulullah (saw) say:

‘He who seeks the pleasure of Allah oblivious of people’s anger (i.e. he who seeks to work in a way that pleases Allah), Allah will protect him from the wrath of people. And he who seeks the pleasure of people despite it causing displeasure to Allah, Allah will abandon him to the people (thereby he will incur a loss in every field).’” (Tirmidhi)

“Strive for that which is beneficial to you, seek help from Allah, do not be weak and incapable.”

“If something afflicts you, do not say ‘if only I had done this, it would have been different’ but rather, say ‘it is the ordainment of Allah, and Allah does as He wishes.’” (Majmu’atu’r-Rasaili’l Qubra)

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“There is not one soul whose place in heaven or hell (whether he is of the fortunate or the unfortunate ones) is not already recorded by Allah,”

Whereupon a man asked “O Rasulullah, should we then trust in our fate and not do any deeds?”

Rasulullah (saw) answered:

“He who is of the fortunate ones will be drawn to the deeds of the fortunate ones, while he who is of the unfortunate ones will be drawn to the deeds of the unfortunate ones.”(Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Ibn Hanbali)

“Act, for everyone is facilitated towards that for which he is destined.” (Bukhari)

“It is HU who shapes (forms, programs) you in the womb (mother’s womb – Rahimiyyah – the Names which comprise your essence) as He wishes.” (Quran 3:6)

“Allah created everything in darkness then shone His Light (Nur) upon them. He who took a share of this Light became rightly guided and he who were deprived of this Light became misguided.” (Hakaik, Timidhi)

“And never will Allah fail to fulfill His promise.” (Quran 3:9)

“Allah will not make a change to what he ordained in His pre-eternal knowledge in regards to the fortunate and unfortunate ones, not due to the actions of the recluse, nor the reckless.” (Hakaik)

Joseph:

“No reproach shall be uttered today against you, Allah will forgive you… for He is the most merciful of the merciful.”(Quran 12:92)

In regards to this verse, Abu Osman says: “A sinner should not be criticized for his sin.”

Joseph said to his brothers:

“How can I criticize you? Me going to prison was preordained in Allah’s pre-eternal knowledge. Indeed I made the mistake of asking my inmate to mention me to his master (when he was freed from prison). So how can I forget my own sin and criticize you instead?” Thus he makes it clear that these things pertain to fate. (Hakaik)

Shah Ibn Shur says:

“He who observes people through the eyes of the Reality (Haq) he will be saved from their opposition. He who observes people through his own eyes, he will spend his days in conflict and rivalry with people. Do you not see when Joseph realized he was afflicted with predestined misfortune; he accepted the apology of his brothers and told them “No reproach shall be uttered today against you.” (Hakaik)

“Had your Rabb (the reality of the Names comprising your essence) willed, all those who live on earth would surely have attained faith, all of them…” (Quran 10:99)

“And it is not for a soul to believe except by permission of Allah (the Name composition which comprises his essence).” (Quran 10:100)

“Allah eliminates what He wills or confirms (what He wills), and with Him is the Mother of the Book (primary KNOWLEDGE, the knowledge of the ways in which the Names will manifest at every instant).” (Quran 13:39)

“The judgment will not be altered by Me!”(Quran 50:29)

“Whoever Allah guides, he is the one who reaches the reality.” (Quran 7:178)

“Allah does as He wills!” (Quran 14:27)

“He who Allah guides can never be led astray.” (Quran 39:37)

Kasani says:

“The deeds of creation in comparison to the deeds of the Reality (Haq) are like the body to the spirit.

If the root of a deed is the spirit, the place of its manifestation is the body. As such, the creator of the deed is the Reality (Haq), though it becomes manifest through man.” (Ta’wilat by Ibn Arabi)

Abdullah Ibn Masud (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) to whom the truth is revealed and who always speaks the truth, told me:

“Substance from your parents are gathered in the mother’s womb for forty days, then in another forty day period it becomes a clot of blood, then in another forty day period it becomes a small flesh. (After the 120^th day) Allah sends an angel and asks it to record four things: Its livelihood, its sustenance, its death, and whether he will be of the fortunate or the unfortunate ones.”

Ibn Masud continues, “I swear to Allah in whose hands of power the life of Abdullah lies, after the angel records these, the spirit is blown into it (the fetus comes to life)”.

One may do so many good deeds such that between him and Paradise will remain only an arm length yet at this point the record (written by the angel in the mother’s womb) will come and obstruct the person. After this, he will begin to do the deeds of the people of hell (and be cast to hell).

One may do such bad deeds that between him and hell will remain only one step distance, yet at this point the record (written by the angel) will come and obstruct the person. Then he will begin to do the deeds of the people of heaven (and go to Paradise).” (Bukhari, Tajrid 1324)

Imran bin Husain (r.a.) narrates:

“Once I asked Rasulullah (saw): “O Rasulullah, can the people of paradise be distinguished from the people of hell (with the knowledge of Allah’s preordainment)?”

Upon which Rasulullah (saw) said; “Yes, they can be distinguished.”

“If the people of heaven and hell have already been predetermined then why should those who do good deeds and engage in prayers continue to do so?”

“Everyone will do what he has been created for, whatever has been predestined for him, he will carry that out” he answered. (Bukhari, Tajrid 2062)

Abu Huraira (r.a.) narrates:

Rasulullah (saw) said:

“An ‘offering’ will not bring the sons of Adam anything which they do not already expect, in fact, it is Allah’s ordainment that attracts the sons of Adam. I weigh what ought to be given. With that judgment I will seek its attainments from the miser.” (Bukhari- Tajrid 2066)

“O believers, when you are invited to that which enlivens you (the knowledge of the reality) attend to Allah and Rasulullah’s invitation. Know well, that (if you do not attend to their invitation) Allah will split the consciousness and the heart (through the system of the brain) and prevent him. You will be resurrected to Him.” (Quran 8:24)

As can be seen from Rasulullah’s teachings, everything from the moment the universe came into being, till eternity, is known and determined. And nobody can change his destiny!

Everyone has to live his own fate. Indeed, the AHAD (inseparable) quality of Allah necessitates this to be so!

The Oneness of Allah and the failure to understand the fact that nothing other than Allah exists, has caused much debate about fate, leading to many inadequate ideas.

On the other hand, the reality of fate has been very clearly outlined by the verses and the hadith explained by Muhammad (saw).

Among the many scholars who assert that everything that happens to man is – without exception – the manifesting of one’s fate is Imam Ghazali. In the second section of the second volume of his book Ihya-u Ulumuddin, he says:

“Because we say: ‘all misfortune, rebellion, adultery, and even denial happen with Allah’s judgment, will and wish; and rightfully so!’”

 

AHMED HULUSI

1989