Qadr - Predeestination

format_quote Originally Posted by anonymous

Question:

a) Does nothing happen WITHOUT the will of Allah SWT

or

b) Does nothing happen WITHOUT Allah SWT not knowing about it i.e. "Not a leaf falls but that he knows it"

or both?

we are in control of our actions and we are in control of our journey and but not in control everything we face while we travel our journey.

I'm asking because a person is going through a difficult time, one trial after another, this individual has been praying for a long time hoping things will get better, easier, whilst things could have been worse, the trials she faces in her community are very hard, to a point it is becoming very difficult to sustain her normal duties and the challenges she faces by people she once knew. She made a bad decision along her journey, now the consequences seem endless or very difficult to overcome...

she occasionally loses faith in Allah SWT's mercy and rahma which is a sin in itself, otherwise its continuous dua, zikr and worrying and stressing and looking for ways out or looking for solutions...

I don't want to come across as someone who is losing faith, i'm looking for reasoning other than 'all we can do is pray'

Prayer alone does not always achieve results, sometimes you need the resources and the willpower to go out and achieve something. Prayer alone did now allow islamic conquest to succeed, these lot put their lives on the line, they took casualties although they did succeed to some limits....

Assalam O Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,

I recently discussed this in detail in commentary of hadith of Jibreel, link is below:
40 hadiths of Imam Nawawi with brief commentary

Below is the portion which is related to your post:

"and in fate, both in its good and in its evil aspects"

The belief in divine decree, or al-Qadar, both the good and the evil thereof, is the final article of faith mentioned by the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the Hadith of Jibreel. The doctrine of al-Qadar is based on the belief in Allah’s attributes and beautiful Names: Knowledge, Ability and Will. Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala says:
“He is the All-Knower [Al-Aleem] of everything“ [Quran 2:29]
“And He is Able to do all things” [Quran 57:2]
“He does what He intends (or Wills).” [Quran 85:16]


Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala has knowledge of everything, and everything happens according to His decree and Will. He knows about the universals and particulars of all His different types of creation. This is true for what is sometimes referred to as the actions of Allah – producing rain, giving life and so forth – as well as the actions of the human beings.
He knows what our actions will be before we perform them. Indeed we can only perform them by His Will, but this does not negate our free will to act. This can be a difficult concept to grasp. A similitude is the example of a teacher, who knows the ability of a student. He can predict before a test what the outcome will be, without influencing the student freely carrying out the test. This concept of the ‘free will’ of the human being is central to our test of the life on this earth. Our choosing freely to believe in Allah and worship and obey Him, is what raises us in our ranks above the rest of creation.
It is also important to understand that Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala knew everything about the creation, before it came into existence. Allah says in one of the most beautiful verses in the Qur’an:
And with Him are the keys of the Unseen. None knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is on the earth and in the sea; Not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, [green or withered], but is written in a Clear Record.[Quran 6:59]

We can see here the reference to a ‘Clear Record’. We should understand that not only did Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala has foreknowledge of the creation, He also recorded this information in the Preserved Tablet (al-Lauh al-Mahfoodh). Allah says:
No calamity occurs on the earth or among yourselves but it is inscribed in the Book [of Decrees] before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah. In order that you may not be sad over matters that you fail to achieve, nor rejoice because of that which has been given to you.” [Quran 57:22]

It is here that we see the beauty of belief in al-Qadar and how it liberates the believer. If we experience a calamity, or trial, we should know that it was already written that it would happen and there was nothing we could have done to avoid it. There should be no bitterness or regrets because everything that comes to us from Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala is for the best. The test is how we deal with what comes. Every event can be seen as a blessing for the believer. If it is good, then they are grateful to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala and are rewarded for that, and if it is a trial, then they are patient and they are rewarded for that also. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his. This is not the case of anyone except a believer. If he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (Allah), and there is a good for him in it. If he gets into trouble and shown resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.[Sahih Muslim]

This part of the Hadith also mentions the ‘good and the evil thereof’ of al-Qadar.

It is important to note that what is ‘evil’ is with respect to the human beings and not with respect to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala. ‘Evil’ results from the human’s act of ignorance, wrong, oppression or sin. However, it is allowed and brought into being by Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala. In reality, there is wisdom and good in everything that occurs in Allah’s creation. Allah says:

Evil has appeared on the land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned, that Allah may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return [by repenting].[Quran 30:41]

Evil occurs, but the ultimate goal of it is good – that Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala may make people taste a part of that which they have done in order that they may return to Him repenting. Allah’s wisdom and nature precludes the existence of acts which are purely evil, without having any benefit or positive results related to them.
When a person realizes that all things are under the control and decree of Allah, they should be freed from any associating of partners with Allah (shirk). There is only One Creator and Master of this creation, and nothing occurs except with His permission. This should make us realize that there is no use in turning to anyone except Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala when we are in need of something.
A correct belief in al-Qadar also shows us the trivialities of our daily worries – money, food, clothes, houses, cars etc. What will come to us is already written, indeed it was written before we were even created. We should therefore be careful not to let these things distract us from matters of true importance – like the prayer, seeking knowledge of Allah's Deen and striving to put it into practice.

Ma'aSalam