The Qadr of Allah is just spouted off on the lips of so many Muslims nowadays. Usually when someone says ‘it’s the Qadr of Allah’ what they mean is ‘hey I have no control or say in this’, or that ‘it is written and Allah has decreed this so I should just accept it’.

So what is the Qadr of Allah? what does this mean and how does this affect your life? A basic understanding of the meaning of Qadr of Allah is that Allah has predestined this. This has been recorded in the Lauh Mahfuz, (اللوح المحفوظ), the preserved tablet. This means is that Allah swt knows everything before it happens, and as a result of His infinite knowledge, it has been recorded or written in the Preserved Tablet where all things are written.

The next question that often comes to mind is ‘What does this mean and how does Qadar / Qadr affect your life as a Muslim?’ Free will and choice is the foundation of Islam.  Choice is a matter of faith and if you are forced, it wouldn’t be a choice nor faith. Allah swt gave all Humans and Jinn the choice and freedom to choose as you will because your choices in life will demonstrate your faith or disbelief.

Without choice, this life in the Dunya (world) would not serve its purpose. We would not be able to prove our faith to Allah. Allah swt says in the Quran:

لا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ

There shall be no compulsion in (accepting) the Religion, indeed the right path has been made clear from the wrong path.

Surah Al Baqarah, v.256

Imagine that, the most important thing in life, the decision of how you live your life, whether in acceptance and obedience to Allah, or whether you decide to reject Allah, Allah leaves that up to you. It’s freedom of choice.

Why would Your Creator allow you to accept or reject His guidance? Because it will show your true faith if you accept and obey of your own free will.

This is why Islam was never spread by the sword. This false propaganda was spread by the haters of Islam, to show that Islam doesn’t allow freedom for its adherents. But hey we digress…

So what does the Quran say about Your Destiny (Qadr)?

Allah taught has in many verses of the Quran, how life can be built in every instance, every small choice you make. We are all given the opportunity to choose. These choices you make will define your future and your destiny.

In the Quran, Allah teaches us that life is a matter of choice and that is the decree of Allah. Allah is the most powerful and can enforce his will on us, yet throughout the Quran, we are given choices on every occasion.

وَإِذْ وَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ اتَّخَذْتُمُ الْعِجْلَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَنتُمْ ظَالِمُونَ

“And when we made an appointment with Musa for forty nights, then you took the calf (in Worship) after him, and you are the Oppressors.”

Surah Al Baqarah, Verse 51

In this verse, Allah swt is referring to Banu Israel (Children of Israel) and their situation after having saved them from Firoun and giving them freedom. While Musa (peace be upon) was away from them, Banu Israel followed Samiree who made for them a golden calf that many of them began to worship.

When given the freedom to choose these people chose to worship other than Allah, committing the greatest crime of Shirk. Allah could have forced them and not given them any opportunity to worship a false god. Yet, he left it to them as a trial to see if they would do what is right.

Allah swt says:

بَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ

Give good news to those who believe and do righteous deeds, that they will have gardens of paradise beneath which rivers flow.

Your Destiny and future is Paradise if you believe with all your heart and work towards reaching paradise.

Allah informs us in a very clear manner, that you will earn yourself paradise by choosing to believe and doing good deeds. Anything pleasing to Allah is a good deed. All you need to do is decide and do it.

That’s what you’ve been promised. But in the end, it will be your choice whether you end up in paradise. This life is all your choice, and the hereafter is also your choice.

Allah, the Most Generous offers us this blessing.

Making Bad Decisions and Qadr of Allah

Going back to Banu Israel, the people of Musa (as), they took the golden calf as a god after the Messenger of Allah had come to them with the Torah from Allah, after Allah had saved them from Firoun, the greatest oppressor.

They chose to worship a calf and it was their choice.

Allah gave them the freedom to make the choice about how they would live after they had been in slavery. But they made the worst choice and it then turned them into the oppressors. They ended up oppressing themselves by ruining their future and their destiny.

That choice became the reason for their destruction and losing out on eternal paradise. Choices matter, don’t ever belittle that freedom that Allah has give you.

We can become better versions of ourselves by making better Choices. Your choices will either help you or harm you.

What choices are you making in life?  Are they helping you to create a destiny, a future that you will love, or are those choices leading your down the path of self destruction like the choices Banu Israel made.

If your choices only ever concern this life of the Dunya, then you will lose your future. Every choice we make needs to help us both worlds. The life of this Dunya and the eternal Akhira (hereafter).

Don’t forget that it is the hypocrites, that Allah informs us about in the Quran that will only work for the now and present. They are only concerned about what will benefit them in the present,  with no planning or effort for the future life of the hereafter.

We Muslims need to work for both this world and the next

Your life is a huge blessing, with the freedom that you have to make good choices. At every point in the Quran Allah swt always reminds us that this Quran is a clear guide. A guide just shows you the right way. It doesn’t force its will on you.

Allah is directing us to our decisions, you have free will, Allah won’t force you. So what will you choose?

The Quran and the Messengers came bringers of Good news and warners of Bad consequence.

Allah swt also says:

وَمَا نُرْسِلُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ ۚ وَيُجَادِلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ ۖ وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَمَا أُنذِرُوا هُزُوًا 

And we have not sent Messengers except as bringers of good news and warners. And those who disbelieve argue using falsehood so that they can invalidate the truth, They have taken my verses and the warnings in ridicule.

Surah Al Kahf, v.56

Many people argue against the things that Allah has made Haram, or impermissible just so they can continue to do these things.  That’s dangerous because Allah says that this is the trait of those who disbelieve in Allah and His message.

The decree of Allah is that He has given you choices in life. Don’t make the mistake the so many make by trying to justify the wrong decisions you make. It’s better to just acknowledge those mistakes and repent. Istighfar is the key to helping yourself out of bad choices.

It’s important to understand that everything is a choice. You are powerful, you have the power to determine your future. Your power is in making the right choices.

These choices will create your life and destiny. Allah reaffirms once again that the Messengers are sent as guides, to show you the way.

Make the choice to follow that guidance, and you will be creating your future. No one can take this away from you. A good deed, is the action of the heart, the action of the tongue and the action of your limbs.

Speak good and you are making a good choice, remain silent when you’re angry or upset and that’s a good choice. Walk towards the things that Allah is pleased with and that’s a good choice. Walk away from the things that Allah dislikes and that’s a good choice.

Don’t make the mistake that so many people make, they say it’s Qadr of Allah and then wait for things to happen. You’ll never be 100% satisfied with that, take decisions, and then act on them. Make dua for guidance and Allah will guide you. Where ever you end up after that will be your destiny insha’Allah.

Don’t do silly things, haram things and then say that’s my destiny, that’s what Allah decreed for me.

No… that was a bad decision you made.

What Allah decreed is that He, the Most Generous would give you an option. Don’t be like Banu Israel. Make choices that will make you happy forever.

So How do You make good Decisions?

Keep it simple. For everything you do, make a double intention.

1. Make sure you actively make the intention, that you want to please Allah with what you’re doing
2. And, make the intention to help yourself right here and now so that you get what you want.

Whatever you choose Allah will decree that for you, only if you take action towards it. It doesn’t always look the way we imagined it would but that’s ok. Allah knows what is better for us.

So, if you plan out something great, make the best choices that you can at that time, and then make dua for guidance and help. Whatever happens, as a result, is your destiny. If it works out how you planned it, great…

And if it doesn’t work out exactly how you wanted, then great. Why you ask? Because Allah will always give you what’s better for you.

Make Dua to make good decisions about your life:

Salat Al Istikhara – this is the dua for guidance and what we should do for all decisions small or large. Whoever makes for guidance can never lose out as that is asking for the help of Allah. So if you worry about making the wrong decisions this should alleviate that worry.

Make Dua and trust that Allah will aid you when you need Him.

Simple steps on how would works is:

1. Make a decision
2. Pray two Raka’at voluntary prayer
3. Make the Dua for guidance

I’m confident you will make the right choices in life, after all, it is your destiny insha’Allah.

By the way don’t overthink everything.. just plan, decide and take action. I say that as my last point because I’m an over-thinker.

You can do it insha’Allah. ?