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Belief in the Divine Destiny (al-Qadr)
Lecture by Bilal Philips
What is al-Qadr?
Al-Qadr (Divine Destiny) is the belief that everything that happens—past, present, and future—occurs by the knowledge, will, and decree of Allah.
It is one of the six pillars of Iman (faith) taught by the Prophet ﷺ in the famous Hadith of Jibril:
> “...to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in destiny, its good and its bad.”
Core Message of the Lecture:
In this lecture, Dr. Bilal Philips explains that belief in Qadr is about balance:
Not denying Allah’s absolute control
Not denying human responsibility.
Islam avoids two extremes:
Fatalism (“I have no choice”)
Absolute free will (“I control everything”)
The Four Components of al-Qadr.
1.Allah’s Knowledge (Al-‘Ilm)
Allah knows everything:
What has happened
What is happening
What will happen
Even what could happen.
> “Indeed, Allah is Knowing of all things.” (Qur’an 8:75).
2. The Writing (Al-Kitābah)
Everything is already written in the Al-Lawh al-Mahfuz (the Preserved Tablet).
The Prophet ﷺ said:
> “The first thing Allah created was the pen…” (recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud).
3.Allah’s Will (Al-Mashī’ah)
Nothing happens unless Allah wills it:
Good or bad
Big or small.
> “You do not will except that Allah wills.” (Qur’an 76:30).
4.Creation (Al-Khalq).
Allah created:
Everything
Every action
Every outcome.
> “Allah created you and what you do.” (Qur’an 37:96)
Human Free Will vs Divine Decree:
Dr. Bilal Philips emphasizes:
Humans do have choice (you decide to pray or not)
But Allah already knows and allowed that choice.
Example: You choose to study or not—but Allah knew your decision before you made it.
So:
You are responsible for your actions
Allah is fully in control of creation
Common Misunderstandings Clarified:
1. “If everything is written, why try?”
Because:
You don’t know what is written for you
Islam commands effort.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
> “Act, for everyone will be facilitated towards what they were created for.” (in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
2. “Can we blame Qadr for sins?”
❌ No.
You cannot say:
> “Allah wrote it, so I had to sin.”
Because:
You made the choice
Qadr is not an excuse for wrongdoing.
3. “Is Qadr only about bad things?”
No—Qadr includes:
Good and blessings
Trials and hardships
Both are tests from Allah.
Benefits of Believing in al-Qadr:
💪 Inner Peace
You don’t panic over what you cannot control.
🧘 Patience in Hardship
You understand trials are part of Allah’s plan.
🙏 Gratitude in Ease
You recognize blessings are from Allah.
🛡️ Protection from Anxiety
You avoid excessive regret:
> “If only I had done…”
Instead, you say:
> Qaddar Allahu wa ma sha’a fa‘al (Allah decreed and He does what He wills)
Practical Takeaways from the Lecture:
Make effort in everything (deen and dunya)
Trust Allah’s plan after doing your best
Avoid overthinking “what if” scenarios
Accept outcomes with humility
Turn to Allah in both success and failure
Summary.
Dr. Bilal Philips teaches that belief in al-Qadr is about:
Trusting Allah completely
Taking responsibility for your actions
Living with balance between effort and reliance (tawakkul).
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Dr Bilal Philips