Predestination, free will and judgement

Al-Qadr

Al-Qadr is the belief in predestination. This means that Allah already knows everything that will happen, and nothing happens unless it is according to Allah’s will. However, this does not mean that the choices people make are not free choices. Instead, it means that Allah knows what people will chose to do.

The Qur’an says: The Lord has created and balanced all things and has fixed their destinies and guided them (Surah 87:2-3). Muslims use this verse as evidence for the belief in predestination.

Some Muslims like the idea of Al-Qadr because they find it reassuring that if bad things happen, Allah must have planned them.

Free will and judgement

The belief in free will is essential in Islam. This is because, for Muslims, life is a test from Allah. Therefore, all human beings must make their own decisions, on which they will be judged by Allah. On the Day of Judgement, God will have knowledge of the faith and actions of every person, which are recorded in the Book of Life.

The records of every individual’s faith and actions will be read out to them on the Day of Judgement from the Book of Life.

Muslims believe that God will reward those who have had faith and done good deeds, and will punish those who have not. Muslims use the term ‘insha’Allah’ frequently in conversation to express belief in Al-Qadr. Insha’Allah means ‘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 gives encouragement that there will be a different, but good, alternative future path.

Muslims believe that they have a duty to read the Qur’an and to be constantly mindful of following Allah’s will. The Qur’an tells of the Prophet Yusuf, who was wrongly imprisoned. Yusuf asked a fellow prisoner whom he predicted would be released to mention him to his lord (the king of Egypt). However, Shaytan [Satan] made him [the fellow prisoner] so neglectful that he forgot to mention him to his lord, and so Yusuf remained in the prison for several years (Surah 12:42). This story reminds Muslims that they should remember to follow Allah’s will and not be led astray.

The Qur’an speaks of a Muslim’s duty to know and abide by the teachings of Allah when making choices with their free will:

It is not fitting for a believing man or a believing woman to have an option in their affairs when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Prophet; and whoever disobeys Allah and His Prophet has indeed strayed into a clearly wrong path.Surah 33:36Question

Which Prophet does the Qur’an say was left in prison due to a person being led astray be Shaytan?

Reveal answer

Yusuf.