What is your view, what the people do today in the world, and strive for, is it something decreed for them or preordained for them or will their fate in the Hereafter be deterrained by the fact that their Prophets brought them teaching which they did not act upon? I said: Of course, it is something which is predetermined for them and preordained for them. He (further) said: Then, would it not be an injustice (to punish them)? I felt greatly disturbed because of that, and said: Everything is created by Allah and lies in His Power. He would not be questioned as to what He does, but they would be questioned; thereupon he said to me: May Allah have mercy upon you, I did not mean to ask you but for testing your intelligence. Two men of the tribe of Muzaina came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: Allah's Messenger, what is your opinion that the people do in the world and strive for, is something decreed for them; something preordained for them and will their fate in the Hereafter be determined by the fact that their Prophets brought them teachings which they did not act upon. and thus they became deserving of punishment? Thereupon, he said: Of course, it happens as it is decreed by Destiny and preordained for them, and this view is confirmed by this verse of the Book of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious:" Consider the soul and Him Who made it perfect, then breathed into it its sin and its piety" (xci. 8).
Narrated by Abu al-Aswad reported that 'Imran b Husain asked him:
Context
In this hadith, a discussion arises regarding the actions of people and whether they are preordained by divine decree. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) affirms that everything occurs as decreed by Allah, emphasizing that while humans act, they are accountable for their choices. This conversation highlights the balance between divine will and human responsibility, a fundamental concept in Islamic belief.
Modern Application
This principle can be applied in our daily lives by encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their actions while recognizing the larger context of divine will. It fosters a mindset of accountability and reflection on one's choices, promoting personal growth and ethical behavior.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Divine Decree and Human Free Will because it addresses the interplay between Allah's predetermined plan and the moral responsibility of individuals for their actions.
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction. But if good comes to them, they say, "This is from Allah "; and if evil befalls them, they say, "This is from you." Say, "All [things] are from Allah." So what is [the matter] with those people that they can hardly understand any statement?
And if not that Allah had decreed for them evacuation, He would have punished them in [this] world, and for them in the Hereafter is the punishment of the Fire.
Then after distress, He sent down upon you security [in the form of] drowsiness, overcoming a faction of you, while another faction worried about themselves, thinking of Allah other than the truth - the thought of ignorance, saying, "Is there anything for us [to have done] in this matter?" Say, "Indeed, the matter belongs completely to Allah." They conceal within themselves what they will not reveal to you. They say, "If there was anything we could have done in the matter, some of us would not have been killed right here." Say, "Even if you had been inside your houses, those decreed to be killed would have come out to their death beds." [It was] so that Allah might test what is in your breasts and purify what is in your hearts. And Allah is Knowing of that within the breasts.
Then is one to whom the evil of his deed has been made attractive so he considers it good [like one rightly guided]? For indeed, Allah sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. So do not let yourself perish over them in regret. Indeed, Allah is Knowing of what they do.
This hadith is #6574 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Destiny. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Abu al-Aswad reported that 'Imran b Husain asked him:.