“You cannot will, unless Allah wills.”[1]

“…While it is Allah who created you and all your doings.”[2] (Quran 37:96)

“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!”[3]

“There is no living creature which He does not hold by its forehead (brain; the programming of the brain by the name Al-Fatir).”[4]

“Say: Everyone acts according to his creation program (fitrah). This is why your Rabb (who is the Fatir) knows best who is on the right path!”[5]

Say: ‘Allah’ and let them amuse themselves in their empty discourse (their illusory world) in which they are absorbed.”[6]

“The doer of what He wills!”[7]

“He is not questioned (called to account) for what He does! But they will be questioned (they will live the consequences of their actions)!”[8]

“Indeed, We have created everything with its program (qadar – fate).”[9]

There are many more verses in the Quran regarding fate, so I will suffice with this much for now and share some hadith regarding fate from both the Sahih Muslim and Tirmidhi collections…

 

Abu al-Aswad reported that Imran ibn Husain asked him: 

“What is your view on what the people do today in the world and strive for, is it something decreed and preordained for them or will their fate in the Hereafter be determined by the fact that their Rasul and Nabi brought them teachings which they did not act upon?” 

I said: “Of course, it is something which is predetermined for them and preordained for them.” 

He then said: “Then, would it not be an injustice (to punish them)?” 

I felt greatly disturbed and said: “He is not questioned for what He does! But they will be questioned” (Quran 21:23); thereupon he said to me: “May Allah have mercy upon you, I did not mean to ask you but for testing your intelligence.”

 

Two men of the tribe of Muzaina came to Allah's Rasul (saw) and said: 

“O Allah's Rasul, what is your opinion on what the people do in the world and strive for, is it something decreed for them; something preordained for them and will their fate in the Hereafter be determined by the fact that their Rasul brought them teachings which they did not act upon and thus they became deserving of punishment?”

Thereupon, he said: 

“Of course, it happens as it is decreed by fate and preordained for them, and this view is confirmed by this verse of the Book of Allah: 

By the self (the individual consciousness; identity) and the One who proportioned it (formed the brain); then inspired it as to what will lead it astray from the Truth and the system, and how to protect itself... (Quran91:7-8)”

***

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. The pens have dried and destinies have begun to operate.”

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

Rasulullah said:

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

***

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 into effect 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 into effect and obstruct the person. Then he will begin to do the deeds of the people of heaven (and go to Paradise).” (Bukhari, Tajrid 1324)

***

Anas Ibn Maliq (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: