1. Knowledge (Al-Ilm):

   • Al-Qadar begins with Allah’s all-encompassing Knowledge. His awareness spans every matter, major or minor, and extends across all time frames within the universe.
   • Allah’s Knowledge encompasses His own actions as well as those taken by His creation. Nothing eludes His omniscience.
   • The Quran asserts this truth: “Not even the weight of an atom escapes from His Knowledge” (Surah Sabaa:3).
   • Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged action despite predestination, emphasizing that everyone’s place is assigned either in Paradise or the Fire (Bukhari Muslim).

2. Writing (Al-Kitabah):

   • Al-Qadar involves Allah’s meticulous recording of everything. He inscribed it in a celestial Book known as “Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz” (The Preserved Tablet).
   • The Quran confirms this: “Do you not know that Allah knows all that is in the heavens and on earth? Verily, it is all in the Book” (Surah Al-Haj:70).
   • Prophet Muhammad stated that Allah ordained the measures and proportions of creation 50,000 years before the heavens and earth were formed (Muslim 1397).

3. Permission (Mashee’ah):

   • Nothing occurs without Allah’s permission. Whether related to His own actions or those of His slaves, everything unfolds according to His decree.
   • The Quran emphasizes this: “And your Lord creates whatsoever He wills and chooses” (Surah Al-Qasas:68).
   • Human actions are also subject to Allah’s permission. He allows or prevents as He deems fit.

4. Creation (Al-Khalaq):

   • Al-Qadar acknowledges that Allah is the Creator of all things. He fashioned every attribute possessed by His creation and governs their actions.
   • The Quran states: “He has created everything, and has measured it exactly according to its due measurements” (Surah Al-Furqan:25).
   • Our free will coexists with divine decree. While we have choices, Allah’s ultimate sovereignty prevails.

In summary, belief in Al-Qadar doesn’t negate human agency. Rather, it harmonizes divine knowledge, predestination, permission, and creation. May our understanding deepen, and our reliance on Allah’s wisdom strengthen. ?