Qada and Qadar represent a main part of the Muslim’s beliefs, it is one of the pillars of Islam. For a Muslim to believe in Qada and Qadar it means to believe that everything happens for a reason in accordance to Allah’s will.    

What is the meaning of Qada Qadar? What is the difference between them? and can one change his destiny? Let’s find out.

What is predestination and decree?

What is Qada in Islam? what is the meaning of qadar? The qada meaning in English is Decree, while Qadar means destiny. People misunderstand the meaning of Qada and Qadar and think that humans don’t have a choice or the free will to do what they want, which is wrong.

Decree and destiny mean that everything happens by Allah’s will, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have the freedom to do what we want. To simplify this, we all have free will, and we have choices, Allah gives us the opportunity to choose how we want to live our lives and make the choices we want. But Allah is the All-Knowing, and everything happens and everything we choose to do is within Allah’s knowledge. 

But what is Qada and Qadar? Qadah means that something has been decided by Allah. while Qadar means that is something that has been set at a certain amount. Belief in al-qada means believing that everything happens follows Allah’s will.

What is Qada in Islam?

The meaning of Qada in Isam is that all actions and events that happen in the universe all happen by Allah’s will. “Qada” refers to the concept of divine decree or predestination. It encompasses the belief that everything that happens in the universe, including human actions and events, is ultimately determined by the will and decree of Allah (God).

What is Qadar?

It is important to understand the meaning of Qada and Qadar. Qadar in English is called destiny, it refers to when, how, and where something will happen.

What is decree of qadar in Islam?

As Muslims, it is essential for us to believe in Qada and Qadar. Qadar means that Allah decreed everything that happened and will happen in the universe. To believe in Qadar we should believe in the following:

1. Allah Almighty is the all-knowing.

One of the main aspects of Qada and Qadar is to belief that Allah knows everything.

2. It’s all written in the Book of Decrees

Everything is written in the al-Lawh al-Mahfuz (the Book of Decrees), as Allah Almighty said in the holy Quran:

أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ فِى كِتَـٰبٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌۭ ٧٠

“Know you not that Allah knows all that is in the heaven and on the earth? Verily, it is (all) in the Book (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz). Verily, that is easy for Allah.” [al-Hajj 22:70]

In Sahih Muslim (2653), it is narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “Allah wrote down the decrees of creation fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth.” 

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said about Qada and Qadar: “The first thing that Allah created was the Pen, and He said to it, ‘Write!’ It said, ‘O Lord, what should I write?’ He said: ‘Write down the decrees of all things until the Hour begins.” [Narrated by Abu Dawud, 4700; classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud.]

3. Everything happens according to Allah’s will

Another essential aspect of believing in Qada and Qadar is to believe that everything follows the will of Allah. Allah Almighty said in the holy Quran: 

وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَيَخْتَارُ ۗ مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخِيَرَةُ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ٦٨

“Your Lord creates and chooses whatever He wills—the choice is not theirs. Glorified and Exalted is Allah above what they associate ˹with Him˺!” [al-Qasas 28:68]

يُثَبِّتُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْقَوْلِ ٱلثَّابِتِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ۚ وَيَفْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ ٢٧

“Allah makes the believers steadfast with the firm Word ˹of faith˺ in this worldly life and the Hereafter. And Allah leaves the wrongdoers to stray. For Allah does what He wills.” [Ibrahim 14:27]

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَوِّرُكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ كَيْفَ يَشَآءُ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٦

“He is the One Who shapes you in the wombs of your mothers as He wills. There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him—the Almighty, All-Wise.” [Aal ‘Imran 3:6]

Also, Allah Almighty said about Qada and Qadar in the holy Quran:

“If Allah had willed, He would have empowered them to fight you. So if they refrain from fighting you and offer you peace, then Allah does not permit you to harm them.” [al-Nisa 4:90]

“Had it been your Lord’s Will, they would not have done such a thing. So, leave them and their deceit” [al-An’am 6:112]

Everything that happens in life, all the events and actions happen because it is the will of Allah.

4. believe in the Concept of Divine Creation.

Another important aspect of Qada and Qadar is to believe in the Concept of Divine Creation. Allah Almighty says in the holy Quran:

ٱللَّهُ خَـٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَكِيلٌۭ ٦٢

“Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Maintainer of everything.” [al-Zumar 39:62]

ٱلْمُلْكِ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۢ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ تَقْدِيرًۭا ٢

“He has created everything, ordaining it precisely.” [al-Furqan 25:2]

وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ٩٦

“While Allah created you and that which you do” [al-Saffat 37:96]

Believing in the four aspects of Qada and Qadar and understanding them is essential.

What is the difference between Qada and Qadar?

The literal meaning of qada and Qadar is that Qada means perfection and completion, while Qadar means evaluating and planning. But what is the difference between the two? Some scholars agree that there is no difference between al-qada’ wal qadar, they both refer to the meaning of each other.

How to accept Qada and Qadar?

To believe in Qada and Qadar one needs to understand their meaning. It was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when Jibril (peace be upon him) asked him about faith (Iman). He said: “(It is) to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in the Divine will and decree (al-qadar) both good and bad.” [Narrated by Muslim, 8.]

Qada and Qadar in Quran.

Here are some verses about Qada and Qadar from the holy Quran:

“We have created all things according to a measure.” (Qamar: 49)

“Who has created and further, given order and proportion; who has ordained laws and granted guidance.” (A’lâ: 2-3)

“No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence: That is truly easy for Allah. In order that you may not despair over matters that pass you by, nor exult over favors bestowed upon you. For Allah loves not any vainglorious boaster.” (Hadîd: 22-23)

“All things are from Allah.” (Nisâ: 78)

“Every man’s fate We have fastened on his own neck.” (Isrâ: 13)

“He knows what (appears to His creatures as) before or after or behind them: But they shall not compass it with their knowledge.” (Tâhâ: 110)

“Who has created life and death that He may try you, which of you is best in conduct.” (Mulk: 2)

ٱللَّهُ خَـٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَكِيلٌۭ ٦٢

“Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Maintainer of everything.” [al-Zumar 39:62]

ٱلْمُلْكِ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۢ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ تَقْدِيرًۭا ٢

“He has created everything, ordaining it precisely.” [al-Furqan 25:2]

وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ٩٦

“While Allah created you and that which you do” [al-Saffat 37:96]

وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَيَخْتَارُ ۗ مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخِيَرَةُ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ٦٨

“Your Lord creates and chooses whatever He wills—the choice is not theirs. Glorified and Exalted is Allah above what they associate ˹with Him˺!” [al-Qasas 28:68]

يُثَبِّتُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْقَوْلِ ٱلثَّابِتِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ۚ وَيَفْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ ٢٧

“Allah makes the believers steadfast with the firm Word ˹of faith˺ in this worldly life and the Hereafter. And Allah leaves the wrongdoers to stray. For Allah does what He wills.” [Ibrahim 14:27]

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَوِّرُكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ كَيْفَ يَشَآءُ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٦

“He is the One Who shapes you in the wombs of your mothers as He wills. There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him—the Almighty, All-Wise.” [Aal ‘Imran 3:6]

Also, Allah Almighty said about Qada and Qadar in the holy Quran:

“If Allah had willed, He would have empowered them to fight you. So if they refrain from fighting you and offer you peace, then Allah does not permit you to harm them.” [al-Nisa 4:90]

“Had it been your Lord’s Will, they would not have done such a thing. So, leave them and their deceit” [al-An’am 6:112]

أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ فِى كِتَـٰبٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌۭ ٧٠

“Know you not that Allah knows all that is in the heaven and on the earth? Verily, it is (all) in the Book (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz). Verily, that is easy for Allah.” [al-Hajj 22:70]

Al-qadar and free will.

We have entailed that believing in Qada and Qadar is one of the pillars of Islam and that everything happens as Allah wills. Does this mean that we don’t have free will? No, it doesn’t mean that we don’t have free will. We all have free will to make our own choices.

Allah Almighty says in the holy Quran:

ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۖ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ مَـَٔابًا ٣٩

“That is (without doubt) the True Day. So, whosoever wills, let him seek a place with (or a way to) His Lord (by obeying Him in this worldly life)!.” [al-Naba 78:39]

“So go to your tilth, when or how you will.” [al-Baqarah 2:223]

Allah Also says in the Quran about Qada and Qadar:

فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا ٱسْتَطَعْتُمْ وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ وَأَنفِقُوا۟ خَيْرًۭا لِّأَنفُسِكُمْ ۗ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ١٦

“So be mindful of Allah to the best of your ability, hear and obey, and spend in charity—that will be best for you. And whoever is saved from the selfishness of their own souls, it is they who are truly successful.” [al-Taghabun 64:16]

لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا

“Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned.” [al-Baqarah 2:286]

From the above verses we can understand that Allah gave us free will to make our choices and live our lives. Allah says in the holy Quran:

لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمْ أَن يَسْتَقِيمَ ٢٨

وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٢٩

“To whomsoever among you who wills to walk straight.  And you cannot will unless (it be) that Allah wills the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” [al-Takwir 81:28-29]

Now we know the meaning of Qada and Qadar. We hope you found what you were looking for, and if you like the article share it with your family and friends, and don’t hesitate and drop a comment below.