Patience Under Decree

Many people have erred in their understanding of the divine decree and predestination.

So they may witness the sins and wrongdoings that are decreed upon any one of them.

Or what is decreed upon the people from that, but rather from disbelief.

And they testify that this is a misfortune by the will of God and by His decree and by His predestination.

Included within the rule of His sovereignty and what His will necessitates.

So they suppose submission to that, and agreement with it, and satisfaction with it.

And similar to that: a religion, ways, and acts of worship.

So they imitate the polytheists who said:

If God had willed, we would not have associated partners, nor would our fathers, nor would we have been deprived of anything.

And they said, "Should we feed one whom, if God had willed, He would have fed?"

And they said, "If the Most Merciful had willed, we would not have worshiped them."

And if they had been guided, they would have known that the divine decree commanded us.

that we accept it and patiently endure what it brings

Among the calamities that befall us are poverty, illness, and fear.

Allah, the Exalted, said: No calamity befalls except by Allah's permission, and whoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart.

Some of the pious predecessors said:

He is the man who, when a calamity befalls him, knows that it is from God, and is content and at peace.

And in the two authentic hadith collections, it is reported from the Prophet, peace be upon him, that he said:

Adam and Moses presented an argument, and Moses said:

You are Adam, whom Allah created with His own hand.

And He breathed into you from His Spirit.

And His angels prostrated to you.

and taught you the names of all things.

Then why did you bring us and your self out of Paradise?

Then Adam said:

You are Moses, whom God chose for His messages and for His word.

So did you find that written about me before I was created?

He said, "Yes."

He said: Adam disputed with Moses.

And Adam did not invoke the divine decree against Moses.

They supposed that the sinner would appeal to the divine decree.

For this is not something a Muslim or a reasonable person would say.

If this were an excuse, it would excuse Iblis, the people of Noah, the people of Hud, and every unbeliever.

Moses did not blame Adam because of the sin either.

For Adam had repented to his Lord, so He chose him and guided him.

But he reproached him for the calamity that had befallen them because of the sin.

And because of this he said, "So why did you expel us and your self from Paradise?"

Adam answered him:

If this was written upon me before I was created.

So the deed and the calamity resulting from it were decreed.

One must accept whatever calamities have been decreed.

Indeed, it is from the completeness of contentment with Allah as Lord.

As for sins, it is not for the servant to sin.

And if he sins, then upon him is to seek forgiveness and repent.

Then he repents from various kinds of faults and is patient upon the calamities.

Allah, the Exalted, said: "So be patient; indeed, the promise of Allah is true, and seek forgiveness for your sin."

And the Most High said: "And if you are patient and are God-fearing, their plotting will not harm you at all."

And He said: "And if you are patient and are mindful of God, then indeed that is among the matters of firm resolve."