Faith in The Divine Decree: The Writing

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Faith in The Divine Decree: The Writing (1/2)

Shaykh Muhammad Salih Al-Uthaymeen


Allah recorded the destiny of everything fifty thousand years before creating the heavens and the earth. He recorded everything that will exist or not exist until the establishment of the Hour.
When Allah created the pen, He said to it, "Write."
The pen asked, "O Lord, what shall I write?"
Allah replied, "Write the decree of what is to happen."
So everything that is to happen until the Day of Judgment was written. Thus whatever occurs to man could not have missed him and whatever misses him could not have occurred to him.
The proof (that everything was previously recorded) is the Saying of Allah, “Know you not that Allah knows all that is in the heaven and on earth? Verily, it is (all) in the Book (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfoodh). Verily! That is easy for Allah.” [Soorah al-Hajj (22): 70]
“No calamity befalls the earth or yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfoodh) before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah.” [Soorah al-Hadid (57): 22]
The people of knowledge said that the Writing is of many kinds:
(i) The General Writing which is in al-Lawh al-Mahfoodh (the Preserved Tablet).
(ii) The Writing about the Life of man.
The Writing about the life of man is recorded while one is in the womb of his mother. Ibn Mas'ood narrated, “The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) told us, “Every one of you is collected in the womb of his mother for the first forty days then he becomes a clot for another forty days then a piece of flesh for another forty days. Allah then sends an angel to breathe a soul into him. The angel is commanded to write down four decrees - his provision, life-span, deeds and whether he will be doomed or blessed (in the Hereafter).
By the One besides whom there is no god, one of you may do the deeds of the people of Paradise until there is no more than a cubit between him and it - then the decree overtakes him and he does the actions of the people of Hell and thus enters it.
One of you may do the deeds of the people of Hell until there is no more than a cubit between him and it. The decree then overtakes him and he does the actions of the people of Paradise and thus enters it.” [Reported by Saheeh al-Bukharee]
Such is because the first writing (in al-Lawh al-Mahfoodh) is dominant.
While reading the above Hadeeth, we should not forget the other Ahadeeth that give glad tidings to man. It is true that this Hadeeth causes one to be terrified and one might ask, 'How can one man perform the deeds of the people of Paradise until there is no more than a cubit between him and it and then - we seek refuge from Allah - he commits an act of the people of Hell?
Reply: There are – al-Hamdulillah – other texts which relieve the believer from his anguish (concerning this Hadeeth);
Allah's Messenger said, “There is no one amongst you but Allah has already decreed his place in Paradise or in Hell."
They asked, "O Messenger of Allah, should we not rely on the Book and leave striving?"
The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, "Strive, for each one will be facilitated to do that for which he is created. Those who are blessed will perform the acts of those who are blessed and those who are the doomed will perform the acts of those who are doomed."
Then he recited the verse, "As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him and believes in al-Husna. We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness). But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient...We will make smooth for him the path for evil.” [Soorah al-Layl (92): 5-10]
This is a glad tiding from the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) - if one performs the acts of the blessed people then this is a proof that he is written amongst the blessed people. So let him be pleased.
Imam Bukharee narrated in his Saheeh that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was in a battle and there was a brave and courageous man concerning whom the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, "Verily, he is from the people of Hell." - despite his bravery and courage.
This was hard on the Sahabah and so one of them said, "By Allah, I will follow him." and so he did.
An arrow of the enemy wounded the brave man and so he was angered. He placed his sword on his chest and leaned on it until the sword emerged from his back. The man thus committed suicide.
The Companion returned to the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and said, "I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah!"
The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) asked, "What is the matter?"
The Companion replied, "The man concerning whom you informed us that he was from the people of the Fire, did such and such."
Then the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, "Verily, a man may perform actions of the people of Paradise as it seems to the people while he is from the people of the Fire." [See, Saheeh al-Bukharee]
(Continued)

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Faith in The Divine Decree: The Writing (2/2)

Shaykh Muhammad Salih Al-Uthaymeen


I ask Allah to purify my intentions and your intentions because intentions play a major role in one's orientation. The heart is the chief and it controls man. We must therefore consider the heart, examine it and purify it - perhaps, it contains impurities. Man might pretend to perform good deeds through the limbs but there might be in his heart this corrupt impurity that leads one to the fire in the end.


Some of the Salaf said,
"My soul has not striven for anything

- its striving is (only) for Ikhlas (sincerity)."

That which many of us consider insignificant requires immense striving. If there is any bit of Riya (show-off) in a person, he is not a mukhlis (one who possesses Ikhlas - sincerity). Perhaps, Riya might be in his heart and it becomes a cause of his destruction at the last moment.


Ibn Qayyim (rahimahullah) mentioned (a story with regards to) the effects of sins and its consequences. A man indulged in Riba (interest - forbidden business) was prompted to recite the Shahadah by his family members at the verge of death. But he would only say 'ten eleven' because his heart only contained those prohibited issues that prevailed and overwhelmed it at the last moment. We seek Allah's Refuge.


When Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) was at the verge of death – and his knowledge, worship and piety are well-known – whenever he lost consciousness, he would say, "not yet, not yet.'


So he was asked upon regaining his consciousness, "O Abu Abdullah, what was your saying, 'not yet, not yet?’ ”


He replied, "I saw Shaytan biting on his fingers and saying, 'You have passed me. O Ahmad.' I told him, 'Not yet, not yet.' Meaning I have not passed you as long as the soul in the body.


Man is thus in danger and as the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, "...until there is no more than a cubit between him and it (Paradise) then the decree overtakes him and he does the actions of the people of Hell and thus he enters it (Hell)."


(iii) The Annual Writing which is recorded annually during Laylatul-Qadr (The Night of Qadr). (This Writing is) concerning what will happen during the (coming) year.
"We sent it (this Qur'an) down on a blessed night in the month of Ramadan. Verily, We are ever warning. Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments." [Soorah ad-Dukhan (44): 3-4]


'Decreed' means every issue is clarified and specified in detail.
Allah also says, “Verily! We have sent it (this Qur'an) down in the night of al-Qadr.” [Soorah al-Qadr (97): 1]


(iv) The Continuous Daily Writing is the writing of the actions because indeed man does not act except that it is recorded – whether the act was in his favor or against him as Allah says, “Nay! But you deny the recompense. But verily, over you (are appointed angels in charge of mankind) to watch you, Kiraman (honorable) Katibeen writing down (your deeds). They know all that you do.” [Soorah al-Infitaar (82): 9-10]
“Indeed We have created man, and We know what his own self whispers to him.We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge). (Remember!) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive, one sitting on the right and the other on the left. Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).” [Soorah al-Qaf (50): 16-18]


This Continuous Daily Writing is different from the previous writings. The previous writings are concerning what man will do whereas this writing is concerning actions which he has performed and thus he will be recompensed (accounted) for them.


(v) The Writing of the Angels that are present at the doors of the mosques on Friday. “They write down (the names of) those who reach the mosque first.
Whoever reaches at the first hour, it is as if he has sacrificed a camel (in Allah's cause).
Whoever goes in the second hour it is as if he has sacrificed a cow.
Whoever goes in the third hour, it is as if he has sacrificed a horned ram.
Whoever goes in the fourth hour, it is as if he has sacrificed a hen.
Whoever goes in the fifth hour, it is as if he has offered an egg.
When the Imam comes out (i.e. starts delivering the sermon), the angels present themselves to listen to the sermon." [Reported by Saheeh al-Bukharee]