Faith

Allahﷻ

1. UNDERSTANDING THE DIVINE DECREE AND FREE WILL Divine decree or predestination is a topic theologians and philosophers have debated over for centuries. As Muslims we believe in the Destiny [Qadr] - that everything in existence has been decreed, measured out and is in the foreknowledge of Allah [God]ﷻ [jalla jalāluhu - Great is His Majesty]. Allahﷻ is just and wise in Hisﷻ decree and actions. Allahﷻ has will to decide what will be and whatever Heﷻ does not will, will not be. Heﷻ has knowledge of everything in the whole universe from trajectories of planets and stars, to the drops of rain, the people and animals who dwell on earth, and the tiniest creatures that are unseen to the human eye. Not a leaf stirs without Hisﷻ knowledge and Heﷻ has power over everything. Divine decree and free will [Qadr and Qadā] are defined as the Will of Allahﷻ and Hisﷻ Action [Afʿāl], both of which determine the destiny of creation pre-eternally. At the same time as believers, we are responsible for our actions and so we strive to do good in this lower world. This is the sixth pillar of faith [imān] and to believe in it is to believe that all things that happen, good or bad, do so only by the will and power of Allahﷻ.