In the Name of Allaah…
Most people entertain bad thoughts about Allaah regarding their own personal situations and the situations of others. The only ones who remain safe from this are those who truly know Allaah, His Names, His Attributes, and what His Wisdom and Right to be praised really entails.
So let every sincere, sound-minded individual focus on himself regarding this, and then repent to Allaah and seek His Forgiveness from the negative notions he entertains about his Lord.
Look closely at anyone! You will find that people become upset with Qadr and blame things on it, saying that, “It should have been this way or that way…”
Some people behave this way only rarely, others more commonly!
Inspect yourself – Are you innocent!?
If you are saved from it, you are safe from something terrible…
But really, I doubt you are even safe!-Ibn al-Qayyim
This is a passage from the great writings of al-‘Allaamah Ibn Qayyim al-Jowziyyah, as quoted in the book, Kitaab at-Towheed, by Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab.
This passage was an explanation of some Qur’aanic verses exposing the notions and ill assumptions of the hypocrites after the defeat suffered at the Battle of Uhud. It is absolutely amazing how this great scholar tied the filthy beliefs of the hypocrites to our own hearts and actions, and guided us to take a an important personal lesson from the hidden enemies of Islaam and their false notions about the Wisdom of Allaah and His Qadr.
From the attributes of the hypocrites is that they do not submit to the Qadr of Allaah, instead they find fault with it, and claim that things would have been better had they been in charge of the affair!
Review Soorah Aal ‘Imraan (3:154).
Ibn al-Qayyim said, “Inspect yourself – Are you innocent?!”
I remind myself and my brothers and sisters in Islaam to sincerely think about the following statements and ponder over how distant we are from them in reality:
- “That’s just great! This is why I hate Mondays!”
- “What is wrong with this laptop? Another virus!! And of course this would happen NOW, when I have all this important work to finish!!”
- “The car seems to break down every time I’m running late!”
- “My stupid cellphone keeps shutting down…!”
- “Oh great! One more red light! As if I’m not late enough!”
- “I stoved my toe on that stupid table!”
These small everyday trials we face and the emotions we react with are all part of our personal test. Our reactions, beliefs, and statements are all being recorded!
With the above mentioned complaints and reactions, who are we actually displeased with? We know that the table didn’t do anything to our toe, right? We know that cars, cellphones, and laptops don’t actually choose to do things to harm us in reality, right?
So then, again – WHO or WHAT are we really displeased with when uttering these kinds of statements?
We desperately need our spouses, friends, and companions to remind us, quite simply, with the following question:
Are you unhappy with the Qadr of Allaah?
Let us replace the bad reactions mentioned with the very best guidance available, the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam):
وإن أصابك شيء فلا تقل لو أني فعلت كذا لكان كذا وكذا لكن قل قدر الله وما شاء فعل…
“…And if something (bad) befalls you, do not say, ‘Had I only done such-and-such, then such-and-such would have happened, rather say: Qadrullaahi, wa maa shaa’ fa’ala (This is from the Qadr of Allaah, and He does whatever He wills).” [Muslim]
Let us affirm everything we face as the Qadr of Allaah, submit to Allaah being pleased with the trial He (and no one else) has chosen for us, and be afraid of a bad reaction that would be written against us and handed to us on the Day of Account.
And Allaah knows best.
Written by: Moosaa Richardson
Can someone give the tashkeel for قدر قل قدر الله وما شاء فعل so that everyone can pronounce it properly?
قَدَرُ اللهِ وَمَا شَاءَ فَعَلَ
قَدْرُ اللهِ وَمَا شَاءَ فَعَلَ
قَدَّرَ اللهُ وَمَا شَاءَ فَعَلَ
These are three ways it could be pronounced.
Do these 3 ways depend on particular grammatical situations or a person can just recite any of the 3 ways? JazaakAllaahu khayra.
Review class #51 (May 12, 2012) of Kitaab at-Towheed (at about 22:45) here: ### link doesn’t work, see Sajid’s comment below ###
You can also get the MP3 from TROID.ca but I would recommend watching the video from Wiziq, since you will see the words on the board and it will be easier to understand that way, in shaa’ Allaah.
ok BaarakAllaahu feekum.
If the link given by the brother above doesn’t work then click http://www.wiziq.com/online-class/707390-kitaab-at-towheed-moosaa-richardson and then click the “View Recording” button for the class dated May 13, 2012
Jazaakumullaahu khayraa for the benefits shared.
The audio discusses قَدَرُ اللهِ & قَدَّرُ اللهِ. But does قَدْرُ اللهِ have the same meaning as قَدَرُ اللهِ?
Also, to be clear, would it be correct that statements similar to the examples given may be OK especially if they are not said with displeasure at the Qadr of Allaah but just as an ordinary statement. For example (in the 2nd): “What is wrong with this laptop? Another virus!!” without the ending part that seems to show displeasure.
JazaakAllaahu khayraa.
Qad-darallaahu wa maa shaa’ fa’ala (قدَّر الله) – its a verbal sentence meaning “Allaah has decreed (this)”
Qadrullaahi (قدرُ اللهِ) – is a nominal sentence, meaning “the qadr of Allaah” so we place an understood “this is” before it
The “What is wrong with this laptop?” example should be understood to be when a person is upset with the situation and blurting a complaint about having to go through it. On the other hand, he could say, “What is wrong with this laptop?” to a repairman, and this would be a normal question asked, while he is pleased with the Qadr of Allaah. And Allaah knows best.
asalamualaykum,
just wanted to ask if any of the scholars specifically mentioned that sentences that blame others like “my stupid cellphone doesn’t work anymore, its the worst company” or sentences that blame oneself like “im so stupid, i need to focus more” are really considered to be expressions that are impermissible and showing displeasure at the decree…? it would be nice if you could translate something from the scholars in this regard so we may all benefit inshallah.
may allah reward you for your works.
Jazak Allaahu Khair for the great article. May Allaah grant us all contentment with His Decree and save us from all forms of shirk and Kufr.Ameen
I wanted more info on Shirk Khafi (inconspicuous shirk) which I came across in a lecture by Shaykh Saleh As Saleh where he said its being unhappy/dissatisfied with what Allaah has ordained. Any more info on this type of Shirk will be helpful.
I think I read an article somewhere on this site, or perhaps a comment after an article about those who take swearing by Allaah lightly and always say “Wallahi, or by Allaah” for small things often. I have tried searching keywords, but to no avail. Would it be possible for you to direct me to this somehow, or a fatawa etc of a scholar regarding this. I understand the question is not really related to the above post. I also have another question for brother Moosa,did you complete part 2 of ‘Prayer Schedules: Important Rulings, Guidelines, and Cautions’ that was posted on salafitalk.net on 12-19-2008, if so could you please post it onto this site?
Read the tafsir ibn kathir of verse 2:225 regarding Unintentional oaths
Assalamu alaykum ustaadh,
Regarding your recent criticism of Yasir Qadhi (http://www.spreaker.com/user/radio1mm/more-proof-that-yasir-qadhi-is-theologic).
Some people are mentioning you erred in this. They argue that the hadith is warning against using the “if I had done this” action as it relates to someone’s frustration. This is because the frustration of Allah’s Qadr is a sign of poor or weak eemaan… [abridged by admin]
What do you say regarding this?
Baarakallahu feek
Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. “Had we done this, something else would have happened…” this is exactly what opens the work of Shaytaan, as the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) warned clearly. ٍTo recognize an error in judgment, being critical of one’s decisions, and to plan to make better decisions in the future is one thing, yet to second-guess what happened, and allow the Shaytaan to lead you into alternate realities that did not happen, and to speak decisively about them, as “near-certain realities” and “the fact of the matter”, etc, this is nothing but misguided confusion, the result of ignoring the guidance of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and having the Shaytaan’s work opened up upon a person. Refuge with Allaah is sought.
What’s amazing is… The argument offered that the prohibition only applies to those who are frustrated with Allaah’s Qadr, having poor or weak eemaan, etc. Aside from being a mere claim, not paired with evidence, it actually resembles the observable reality of the frustration among those political ikhwanis stumbling about in fear of Trump’s presidency!
They also claim: “The issue with لو (if) is that if it is said disliking the qadr of Allah it is Haraam. But if it is said in a manner of wanting good then it is lawful. This is in Sh. Fawzan’s explanation of Kitaab at-Tawheed.”
Sh. Fowzaan in E’aanat al-Mustafeed did indeed mention that saying “لو” (if only) when done out of sadness and displeasure with the Qadr of Allaah is surely impermissible. He did not restrict it to only this case, so that a man could talk about multiple universes and what would have happened in each alternate universe had certain things taken place, so long as he claims verbally that he is pleased with the Qadr of Allaah! No, rather: If he is pleased with the Qadr of Allaah, then he must accept that what happened COULD NEVER HAVE BEEN AVOIDED, EVER. He says: That was the Qadr of Allaah (really), and He has done whatever He wills, and he shuts the door of confusion and philosophical rambling upon the Shaytaan (as Shaykh Fowzaan said)!
Honestly: Is this what Yasir has done, or just the opposite: In sadness and regret about what took place, he begins to go over alternate outcomes which would have happened had certain things had or had not happened?! Convey to our brothers who still think well of this rambling, confused man: OPEN YOUR EYES.
Assalamu alaykum
Surah Ar-Rad 13:39 يَمْحُو اللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ
Could u pls explain the tafsir of this verse ? If things had already been written down in Lawhul Mahfuz Fifty thousand years before the creation of heavens & earth, how should we understand the above verse ?
Both the initial writing, as well as the mahw (whatever He erases/cancels), are from Allaah’s Qadr. Qadr is the detailed plan of Allah for His Creation. You will not be able to grasp all issues of Qadr. Affirm that He has decreed all matters, and affirm that He wipes away whatever He chooses, and then leave the details of that to Allaah, lest you destroy yourself trying to understand exactly how Allaah planned and manages His Creation. “He is not asked about what He does, yet they are questioned.” [Meaning of Quran 21:23] And Allaah knows best.
Jazakallahu khayran for the clarification.
So where does this Mahw occurs ?
Wherever Allah has made it to occur. Avoid too many questions about Qadr. May Allaah bless you!
As Salaam ‘Alaykum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barahkatu.
Ustaadh can you please explain how should one deal with regards to a sin. So they fear that a particular sin is the reason for the severe trial they are in and in this case wished they could have the chance to go back to change it but they know and affirms that they of course can’t go back but severely regrets their sin and this is causing them severe distress out of fearing that if they go with the Qadr of Allaah with regards to this sin then they may fall into belittle the sin and not be remorseful so hence they blamed themselves and in turn has fallen into the issue of severely wanting to change what has happened to them because of what they are facing now and are not sure how to be patient with this issue as it is now affecting their Deen/Yaqeen.
In this case is this not being okay with the Qadr?
How can one affirms the Qadr of Allaah with regards to their sins and making sure not to fall into blaming the Qadr of Allaah for their sins?
What are ways one can build back up their Eeman and Yaqeen?
Jazak Allaahu Khyran
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. This is a quick summary, and perhaps later I may have the time to provide more details, in shaa’ Allah.
The belief of Ahlus-Sunnah is that all things are by Qadar, no exceptions. Yet, from our good manners is how we speak about things. We ascribe the sins to ourselves and do not absolve ourselves of blame by mentioning Qadar, when speaking about our sins. So the trials surrounding the sins are mentioned as Qadar, yet the sin itself is referred to as being from one’s own evil, and Allah knows best.