Al-Qadr
Al-QadrIslamic belief that Allah already knows everything that will ever happen in the universe. is the concept that Allah knows everything and has already decided everything that will happen. This is called predestinationThe idea that Allah already knows one's destiny and it is already written. .
Al-Qadr is linked to the six beliefs of SunniMuslims who believe in the successorship of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali as leaders of the Muslim community after the Prophet Muhammad. Islam. This is because it shows that Allah is omniscient, meaning ‘knowing everything’, and omnipotent, meaning ‘having unlimited power.’ In the HadithThe sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, as remembered and recounted by those close to him., AliThe cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, who succeeded him as fourth caliph, though Shia Muslims believe he should have been the Prophet’s immediate successor. speaks of predestination:
There is not one amongst you who has not been allotted his seat in Paradise or Hell. They said: Allah’s messenger, then why should we perform good deeds, why not depend upon our destiny? Thereupon he said, no, do perform good deeds, for everyone is facilitated in that for which he has been created.
Although al-Qadr is a key belief within Sunni Islam it is also important within Shi'aMuslims, or Shi’ites, who believe in the Imamah, leadership of Ali and his descendants after the Prophet Muhammad. Islam. This is because Shi’a Muslims believe that nothing can happen without the will of Allah. However, for both Sunni and Shi'a Muslims, al-Qadr does not mean that the choices people make are not free choices. Instead, it means that Allah knows what choices people are going to make before they are made.
There is evidence of al-Qadr in the Qur’an: The Lord has created and balanced all things and has fixed their destinies and guided them. (Qur’an 87:2)
The belief in free willThe idea that humans are free to make their own moral choices. is essential in Islam. This is because, for Muslims, life is a test from Allah. Therefore, all human beings must make their own decisions, and they will be judged on those decisions by Allah. On the Day of Judgement, God will reward those who have had faith and done good deeds and punish those who have not. So, God judges people on their choices, not on the destiny already decided for them. The Qur’an confirms this:
Whoever does righteousness – it is for his [own] soul; and whoever does evil [does so] against it. And your Lord is not ever unjust to [his] servants.
Muslims use the term ‘insha’Allah’ frequently in conversation to express belief in al-Qadr. Insha’Allah means ‘if God is willing’ or ‘if God wills it to be so’. For example, a Muslim might say, “Next summer, I will get a good grade in GCSE Religious Studies and go on to study it at A Level, insha’Allah.”
This person does not mean that they can just sit back and hope to get a good grade because it is Allah’s will. They will still need to work really hard. However, if they do not get a good grade, they will know that it is not because of their lack of effort – instead, it was not the will of Allah for them to achieve a good grade. Believing that Allah is good and merciful will give the person encouragement that there will be a different, but good, alternative future path for them.
