What Is the Meaning of “Good” and “Evil” in Fate (Qadr)?
Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti
Question
Our beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) emphasized the importance of believing in fate (qadr), both its good and its bad. What is meant by “good” and “evil” in this context?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.
Fate (Qadr)
Belief in fate (qadr) is clearly emphasized in the hadith of Jibril, where the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“And to believe in fate (qadr), its good and its evil.” [Muslim]
Belief in fate is one of the pillars of faith, and it is obligatory for a Muslim to rely on Allah, to work hard, to take the necessary means, and to submit all their affairs to Allah (Most High). A believer should hasten to do what pleases Allah and understand that what has befallen them could not have missed them, and what has missed them could not have befallen them.
Fate refers to Allah’s preordainment of all things, according to His wisdom and knowledge. Whether something is perceived as good or bad, it is decreed by Allah (Most High). Allah says:
“Indeed, We have created everything, perfectly preordained.” [Quran, 54:49]
Good and Evil
To clarify the concept of “good” and “evil” in fate, we can say that unexpected events may occur in a person’s life, or things they hoped for may not happen. A believer responds to both what happens and what does not happen with contentment, submission, and trust in Allah, knowing that Allah has decreed everything in the eternal past. An unbeliever, on the other hand, may despair and feel dissatisfaction, but even so, nothing happens except what Allah has decreed.
One of the highest benefits of belief in the qadr is contentment and satisfaction with what Allah has decreed, peace of mind, patience during trials and tribulations, and the courage to seek what is needed. It also grants strength to approach great tasks with wisdom, bravery, and certainty.
We ask Allah for complete faith and true certainty, for He is the One who grants that, and He is capable of all things. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti
Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti is a Syrian scholar born in Aleppo in 1977. He obtained his degree in Shari‘a from the Shari‘a Faculty of Damascus University, a Diploma in Educational Qualification from the Faculty of Education at Aleppo University, and a Diploma in Shari‘a and a Master’s in Shari‘a from the Faculty of Shari‘a and Law at Omdurman University in Sudan. He is currently writing his doctoral thesis.
He studied under esteemed scholars such as Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Mustafa al-Turkmani, and Shaykh Dr. Nur al-Din Itr, among others. Shaykh al-Yakti has worked in teaching and cultural guidance in orphanages and high schools in Aleppo. He served as an Imam, Khatib, and reciter at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and as a certified trainer for Khatibs in Abu Dhabi’s Khatib Qualification Program.
He is involved in developing and teaching a youth education program at Seekers Arabic for Islamic Sciences.
Among Shaykh al-Yaqti’s significant works are “Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni: Bayna Ilm al-Kalam Wa Usul al-Fiqh” and the program “The Messenger of Allah Among Us (Allah bless him and give him peace).”
