Predestination in Islam

Have you ever pondered the true nature of free will in Islam? A deeper dive into the Islamic scriptures shatters the concept of free will and unveils a stark reality: Allah has predetermined a person's fate thousands of years before their birth, long before they have had the chance to commit any good or bad deeds. It is said that individuals are specifically created for either hell or paradise, and this divine purpose then shapes every action they take in their daily lives. To make matters worse, the people who are created for paradise, are still guaranteed a visit to hell to stay there until judgment day.

Today, we will explore whether a person truly has the freedom to choose and steer their destiny toward either paradise or hell, or is this Calvinism on steroids? This article would have a lot of referencing and less commenting to allow the Islamic scriptures to speak for themselves.

Islam has six articles of faith:

1. Belief in Allah: The oneness of God.

2. Belief in Angels: The existence and roles of angels.

3. Belief in the Prophets: The prophets sent by Allah.

4. Belief in the Revealed Books: The scriptures sent by Allah.

5. Belief in the Day of Judgment: The final resurrection and judgment.

6. Belief in Qadr: Belief in Allah’s predestination and divine decree.

The sixth article incorporates Qadr (predestination) and Qada (divine decree) - which are fundamental concepts related to the divine will and the nature of human actions. The concepts of Qadr and Qada aim to balance divine sovereignty with human accountability. They underscore the belief that, although Allah’s knowledge and decrees are absolute, human actions are significant and consequential.

Qadr (predestination)	Qada  (divine decree)
Divine predestination; is the belief that Allah has preordained all events.	The execution or implementation of Allah’s decrees.
It encompasses the belief that Allah has foreordained everything that happens in the universe, including human actions; based on the belief that Allah's knowledge encompasses everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen	It is the manifestation of His divine will in the creation and unfolding of events in the universe. Allah's knowledge encompasses everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen
According to Islamic belief, Allah has written everything that will occur in a preserved tablet called the Al-Lawh Al-Mahfud (the Preserved Tablet). This includes all events, outcomes, and the destinies of all creatures because He knew the choices we would make.	While Qada signifies Allah’s decrees, humans are given free will to make choices within the framework of Allah's ultimate plan. This is a point of balance between divine predestination and human responsibility.
Belief in Qadr means acknowledging that Allah’s will is supreme and that everything unfolds according to His plan.	Belief in Qada involves accepting that Allah’s decrees, whether they are seen as favorable or unfavorable, are part of His infinite wisdom and justice.

Islamic scholars will tell us that Allah did not decide on what one would do and where he would end up - whether hell or paradise. They argue that due to His omniscience, "none of their actions were concealed from Him before He created them. He knew what they would do before He created them" [1] .

They appeal to the above reasoning that since Allah knew what they would do, he only sealed their life by writing the decrees in a book, but did not decide for them what choices they would make in their life. The following verses from the Qu'ran make it seem that a person is free to choose their destiny as a consequence of their actions.

Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. S. 2:62

That no soul laden bears the load of another, and that a man shall have to his account only as he has laboured, and that his labouring shall surely be seen, then he shall be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense, and that the final end is unto thy Lord, S. 53:38-42

The Quran further teaches that Allah responds to the actions of his creatures and that it is up to man to change his condition before Allah will even take the initiative of enabling him/her to make such a change:

For each (person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the Command of Allah. Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves. But when Allah wills a people's punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector. S. 13:11

The Quran also suggests that Allah will only mislead those who are wicked and ungodly:

Allah is not ashamed to strike a similitude even of a gnat, or aught above it. As for the believers, they know it is the truth from their Lord; but as for unbelievers, they say, 'What did Allah desire by this for a similitude?' Thereby He leads many astray, and thereby He guides many; and thereby He leads none astray save the ungodly. S. 2:26

Allah will then judge mankind for what they have earned:

That Day mankind will proceed in scattered groups that they may be shown their deeds. So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it. Whoever has done an atom's weight of good shall meet with its reward and whoever has done an atom's weight of evil shall meet with its consequences. S. 99:6-8

As you delve further, the following verses suggest good deeds alone are not enough to merit paradise. This introduces a conflict. Are good deeds enough or do you need good deeds plus mercy?

O believers, follow not the steps of Satan; for whosoever follows the steps of Satan, assuredly he bids to indecency and dishonour. But for Allah's bounty to you and His mercy not one of you would have been pure ever; but Allah purifies whom He will; and Allah is All-hearing, All-knowing. S. 24:21

Muhammad states that good deeds WILL NOT merit paradise:

Narrated Abu Huraira:I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "The good deeds of any person will not make him enter Paradise." (i.e., None can enter Paradise through his good deeds.) They (the Prophet's companions) said, 'Not even you, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?' He said, "Not even myself, unless Allah bestows His favor and mercy on me." So be moderate in your religious deeds and do the deeds that are within your ability: and none of you should wish for death, for if he is a good doer, he may increase his good deeds, and if he is an evil doer, he may repent to Allah." Bukhari:5673

Narrated `Aisha: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and receive good news because one's good deeds will not make him enter Paradise." They asked, "Even you, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" He said, "Even I, unless and until Allah bestows His pardon and Mercy on me." Bukhari:6467

This brings up a critical issue for Muslims because as we delve further, we understand that Allah’s mercy and grace imply that a person must be pre-selected (chosen) by Allah for salvation, i.e., predestination otherwise an individual will never believe and turn to Allah.

Indeed, all things We created with predestination. [Qu'ran 54:49, Sahih International]

A person is not a true Muslim if they do not believe in predestination (read here). Without this divine selection (pre-destination), no individual would ever believe or turn to Allah. Consider the following verses, which emphasize strongly the idea of predestination:

And you do not will except that Allāh wills - Lord of the worlds. [Qu'ran 81:29 sh

The Quran repeatedly emphasizes that Allah has determined and measured everything that will happen to every creature.

Say, "Never will we be struck except by what Allāh has decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allāh let the believers rely. [Qu'ran 9:51, Sahih International]

How does Allah decree events? There is a register/record in which destiny is written.

Do you not know that Allah knows what is in the heaven and earth? Indeed, that is in a Record. Indeed that, for Allah , is easy. 22:70 sh

The destiny of creation was written fifty thousand years before creation.

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah ordained the measures (of quality) of the creation fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, as His Throne was upon water. Muslim:2653b

Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty. No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being - indeed that, for Allāh, is easy -In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful - 57:21-23 sh

 Below excerpt illustrates the difficult balancing act Islamic scholars have to perform to keep from blaming Allah for the actions of His creation.

Ref: Guide To Sound Creed - A Book On Muslim Creed And Faith by Dr. Salih Al-Fawzan.

The above illustration would have been alright if there were no contrary admissions from Muhammad, his companions, and the Qu'ran itself about the matters of predestination and creation of mankind. We can continue with the analogy given above and question the outcome. Can we expect grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? That would be contrary to their 'creation' or 'design'.

In the same way, although man is making choices, the range of choices he would make is dictated by his design and the driving force that inspires the actions. Can you expect a man with leprosy not to corrupt and bleed? What is Allah's role in man's creation and his destiny?

Allah implanted wickedness in the soul 

"And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it and inspired it [with] its wickedness and its righteousness." [Qu'ran 91:7-8, Sahih International]

By the soul, and That which shaped it and inspired it to lewdness and godfearing!  [Qu'ran 91:7-8, Arberry]

Is Allah inspiring some people to wickedness and some to righteousness? The answer lies in the below verses from Qu'ran.

So We have appointed to every Prophet an enemy -- Satans of men and jinn, revealing tawdry speech to each other, all as a delusion; yet, had thy Lord willed, they would never have done it. So leave them to their forging, 6:112

And We did not send any messenger except [speaking] in the language of his people to state clearly for them, and Allah sends astray [thereby] whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. 14:4

Indeed, those who disbelieve - it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them - they will not believe. Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil. And for them is a great punishment. 2:6-7

Whoever Allah guides - he is the [rightly] guided; and whoever He sends astray - it is those who are the losers. And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like livestock; rather, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless. 7:178-179

Knowest thou not that to Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth? He chastises whom He will, and forgives whom He will; and Allah is powerful over everything… Whomsoever Allah desires to tempt, thou cannot avail him anything with Allah. Those are they whose hearts Allah desires not to purify; for them is degradation in this world; and in the world to come awaits them a mighty chastisement; 5:40-41, Arberry

"With Allah is the argument that reaches home: if it had been His will, He could indeed have guided you all." 6:149, Yusuf Ali

If We had so willed, We could have given every soul its guidance; but now My Word is realized – ‘Assuredly I shall fill Gehenna with jinn and men all together.’ So now taste, for that you forgot the encounter of this your day! We indeed have forgotten you. Taste the chastisement of eternity for that you were doing!' S. 32:13-14

But why doesn't Allah give every soul its guidance? SO THAT WHICH HIS WORD CAN BE FULFILLED. That his desire to fill hell with men and jinns may be realized.

Find it hard to believe that Allah would guide some and misguide others, only to then punish them for the deeds they performed under misguidance? To shed more light on this claim, consider these two hadiths that offer commentary on this very verse.

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). Muslim:2650(b)

‘Imran b, Husain told of two men of Muzaina who said, “Messenger of God, tell us whether what men do to-day and strive over is something which has been destined for them and has previously been decreed for them, or whether it is something their prophet has brought them with which they are encountered and which has become binding upon them.” He replied, “No, it is something which has been destined for them and previously decreed for them.” The verification of that is found in God’s Book which says, “By a soul and Him who formed it and implanted in it its wickedness and its piety.” Muslim transmitted it. Quran, xci, 7f. Mishkat:87 

Does that sound like a holy God? Will a holy God implant sin in anyone? Will a righteous God inspire wickedness? This is contrary to the Biblical account that 'God made man in His image and His likeness' (Genesis 1:26-28). As per the Bible, Adam and Eve had free will and the capacity to make a choice, hence Adam was held accountable for sin.

In the Islamic view, Adam is absolved from his sin since it was Allah who destined him to this act of sin forty years before his creation.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Adam and Moses argued with each other. Moses said to Adam. 'O Adam! You are our father who disappointed us and turned us out of Paradise.' Then Adam said to him, 'O Moses! Allah favored you with His talk (talked to you directly) and He wrote (the Torah) for you with His Own Hand. Do you blame me for action which Allah had written in my fate forty years before my creation?' So Adam confuted Moses, Adam confuted Moses," the Prophet (ﷺ) added, repeating the Statement three times. Bukhari:6614 

There was argument between Adam and Moses. Moses said to Adam: You are our father. You did us harm and caused us to get out of Paradise. Adam said to him: You are Moses. Allah selected you (for direct conversation with you) and wrote with His own Hand the Book (Torah) for you. Despite this you blame me for an act which Allah had ordained for me forty years before He created me. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said:. This is how Adam came the better of Moses and Adam came the better of Moses. Muslim:2652a 

Some assert that Adam's reference to Allah's act pertains to the predestination of coming to earth from paradise. However, the argument clearly concerns being expelled from paradise. What caused Adam to be expelled? An act. Adam states, "Despite this, you blame me for AN ACT (singular) which Allah had ordained for me forty years before He created me." From the context, it's evident that Adam refers to the sin he committed and attributes its predestination to Allah, who had written it in his fate 40 years before his creation.

Here we need to understand the Register/Record which was mentioned previously.

‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported God’s messenger as saying, “The first thing God created was the pen. He told it to write and when it asked Him what it should write He told it to write what was decreed, so it wrote what had taken place and what would take place to all eternity.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying that this is a tradition whose isnad is gharib. Mishkat:94 

Son! You will not get the taste of the reality of faith until you know that what has come to you could not miss you, and that what has missed you could not come to you. I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: The first thing Allah created was the pen. He said to it: Write. It asked: What should I write, my Lord? He said: Write what was decreed about everything till the Last Hour comes. Son! I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: He who dies on something other than this does not belong to me. Abudawud:4700 

The Islamic view, trying to reconcile predestination and man's free will asserts that since Allah knew about the deeds people would commit, he merely wrote their deeds in the register and decreed them to come to pass, because Allah would not act unjustly. They are actually implying that if Allah had made these decisions by Himself then he would be unjust.

We have to let the scriptures clarify this for us:

'Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported: Evil one is he who is evil in the womb of his mother and the good one is he who takes a lesson from the (fate of) others. The narrator came to a person from amongst the Companions of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who was called Hudhaifa b. Usaid Ghifari and said: How can a person be an evil one without (committing an evil) deed? Thereupon the person said to him: You are surprised at this, whereas I have heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: When forty-two nights pass after the semen gets into the womb, Allah sends the angel and gives him shape. Then he creates his sense of hearing, sense of sight, his skin, his flesh, his bones, and then says: My Lord, would he be male or female? And your Lord decides as He desires and the angel then puts down that also and then says: My Lord, what about his age? And your Lord decides as He likes it and the angel puts it down. Then he says: My Lord, what about his livelihood? And then the Lord decides as He likes and the angel writes it down, and then the angel gets out with his scroll of destiny in his hand and nothing is added to it and nothing is subtracted from it. Muslim:2645a 

• The hadith above clearly tells you "your Lord decides as HE DESIRES".

• When is this decision made? before the person is born. He is evil or good from the womb.

• Moreover, once it is written, nothing is added, nothing is subtracted. Game over!

Do not believe it? read this. There is no altering of Allah's creation.

There is none born but is created to his true nature (Islam). It is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian quite as beasts produce their young with their limbs perfect. Do you see anything deficient in them? Then he quoted the Qur'an., The nature made by Allah in which He has created men there is no altering of Allah's creation; that is the right religion" (ar-Rum:30) Muslim:2658b 

Then set your face upright for religion in the right state-- the nature made by Allah in which He has made men; there is no altering of Allah's creation; that is the right religion, but most people do not know-- [Qu'ran 30:30, Shakir]

 The scriptures are clear, Allah has written and he does exactly that. 

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: A strong believer is better and is more lovable to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone, (but) cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart, and if anything (in the form of trouble) comes to you, don't say: If I had not done that, it would not have happened so and so, but say: Allah did that what He had ordained to do and your "if" opens the (gate) for the Satan. Muslim:2664 

 No adding or subtracting from the document of destiny

When the drop of (semen) remains in the womb for forty or forty five nights, the angel comes and says: My Lord, will he be good or evil? And both these things would be written. Then the angel says: My Lord, would he be male or female? And both these things are written. And his deeds and actions, his death, his livelihood; these are also recorded. Then his document of destiny is rolled and there is no addition to nor subtraction from it. Muslim:2644 

Your day-to-day deeds, livelihood, death -- everything is written for you. Actually, there is some bad news Allah says he will drag you to death as per the writing and you cannot escape.

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 Allāh"; and if evil befalls them, they say, "This is from you." Say, "All [things] are from Allāh." So what is [the matter] with those people that they can hardly understand any statement? 4:78 sh

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. 3:154 sh

This is completely contrary to what the Bible says:

Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death. [Psals 68:20, BSB]

Jesus said: 
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. [John 10:10, BSB]

The LORD values the lives of his faithful followers. [Psalms 116:15, TPT]

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live!" [Ezekiel 18:32, AMP]

Death is called an enemy:
 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. [1 Cor 15:26, KJV]

It must be clear by now that Allah inspires people to believe and walk in righteousness who are destined for paradise and leads astray and inspires to wickedness those who are destined to hell.

And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed - all of them entirely. Then, [O Muhammad], would you compel the people in order that they become believers? And it is not for a soul to believe except by permission of Allah , and He will place defilement upon those who will not use reason. [Qu'ran10:99-100, Sahih International]

Indeed, this is a reminder, so he who wills may take to his Lord a way. And you do not will except that Allāh wills. Indeed, Allāh is ever Knowing and Wise. He admits whom He wills into His mercy; but the wrongdoers - He has prepared for them a painful punishment.[Qu'ran 76:29-31, Sahih International]

For whoever wills among you to take a right course. And you do not will except that Allāh wills - Lord of the worlds. [Qu'ran 81:28-29, Sahih International]

And if your Lord had willed, He could have made mankind one community; but they will not cease to differ, Except whom your Lord has given mercy, and for that He created them. But the word of your Lord is to be fulfilled that, "I will surely fill Hell with jinn and men all together." [Qu'ran 11:118-119, Sahih International]

Had thy Lord willed, He would have made mankind one nation; but they continue in their differences excepting those on whom thy Lord has mercy. To that end He created them, and perfectly is fulfilled the word of thy Lord: 'I shall assuredly fill Gehenna with jinn and men all together.'  [Qu'ran 11:118-119, Arberry]

Verily, the hearts of all the sons of Adam are between the two fingers out of the fingers of the Compassionate Lord as one heart. He turns that to any (direction) He likes. Then Allahs Messenger (ﷺ) said: 0 Allah, the Turner of the hearts, turn our hearts to Thine obedience. Muslim:2655 

Let us see the commentary on these from the Hadiths:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), the truthful and truly-inspired, said, "Each one of you collected in the womb of his mother for forty days, and then turns into a clot for an equal period (of forty days) and turns into a piece of flesh for a similar period (of forty days) and then Allah sends an angel and orders him to write four things, i.e., his provision, his age, and whether he will be of the wretched or the blessed (in the Hereafter). Then the soul is breathed into him. And by Allah, a person among you (or a man) may do deeds of the people of the Fire till there is only a cubit or an arm-breadth distance between him and the Fire, but then that writing (which Allah has ordered the angel to write) precedes, and he does the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters it; and a man may do the deeds of the people of Paradise till there is only a cubit or two between him and Paradise, and then that writing precedes and he does the deeds of the people of the Fire and enters it."  Bukhari:6594 

This is a very disheartening passage. It tells you in no uncertain terms that if you were someone created for hellfire, even though you would do good deeds contrary to your writing, your written destiny kicks in, kicks you in the gut, and causes you to commit the deeds of people of fire and leads you straight to it. Does it sound fair to you? Oh, wait are you allowed to question Allah's decrees?

Abu al-Aswad reported that 'Imran b Husain asked him: 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. Muslim:2650(a)

The fate of people in the hereafter is not determined by whether they obeyed or disobeyed the prophets, but it is something predetermined and preordained for them. This cannot be unjust because Allah is supreme and cannot be questioned for what he does or held accountable. Can you accept that?

Who is the architect for the events in the world - rape, killing, poverty, sickness, wars etc?

Does it mean all these events were written as Allah likes?

Did you know that adultery/sin is decreed and you cannot escape it? [Qu'ran 91:7-8]

Who has mandated the temptation and sinful action?

Narrated Ibn `Abbas: I did not see anything so resembling minor sins as what Abu Huraira said from the Prophet, who said, "Allah has written for the son of Adam his inevitable share of adultery whether he is aware of it or not: The adultery of the eye is the looking (at something which is sinful to look at), and the adultery of the tongue is to utter (what it is unlawful to utter), and the innerself wishes and longs for (adultery) and the private parts turn that into reality or refrain from submitting to the temptation." Bukhari:6612

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying. Allah fixed the very portion of adultery which a man will indulge in. There would be no escape from it. The adultery of the eye is the lustful look and the adultery of the ears is listening to voluptuous (song or talk) and the adultery of the tongue is licentious speech and the adultery of the hand is the lustful grip (embrace) and the adultery of the feet is to walk (to the place) where he intends to commit adultery and the heart yearns and desires which he may or may not put into effect. Muslim:2658a 

Verily Allah has fixed the very portion of adultery which a man will indulge in, and which he of necessity must commit. The adultery of the eye is the lustful look, and the adultery of the tongue is the licentious speech, the heart desires and yearns, which the parts may or may not put into effect. Muslim:2657b

These hadiths reveal that Allah has written the amount of sin you will commit and you cannot escape it, you must 'of necessity' commit them, this goes back to the implantation of the sin nature in you. [Qu'ran 91:7-8]. You may be confused about 'the heart yearns and desires which he may or may not put into effect' as if you have a choice. Do you know what Allah would do if you resisted the urge for adultery (sin) ordained for you and tried to live a holy life?

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "By the One in Whose Hand my soul is! If you do not commit sins, Allah would replace you with a people who would commit sins and seek forgiveness from Allah; and Allah will certainly forgive them." Riyadussalihin:1871 

Abu Ayyub Ansari reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: If you were not to commit sins, Allah would have swept you out of existence and would have replaced you by another people who have committed sin, and then asked forgiveness from Allah, and He would have granted them pardon. Muslim:2748b 

Honestly, can this Allah be God?

Do you know what the Bible says on this subject?

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man who endures temptation, because having been approved he will receive the crown of life which the Lord promised to the ones loving Him. Let no one being tempted say, I am tempted from God. For God is not tempted by evil, and He tempts no one. But each one is tempted by his own lusts, being drawn out and being seduced by them. [James 1:12-14, LITV]

No temptation has come upon you except what is common to mankind. For God, Who is faithful, will not permit you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear; but with the temptation, He will make a way of escape, so that you may be able to bear it. [1  Corithians 10:13, LITV]

What a stark difference, the God revealed in the Bible doesn't tempt you, instead rewards you for standing tall during temptation and also provides you a way to escape temptation.

What about Children? Surely, one would assume they are innocent and would go to paradise. Well, so thought Aisha, Muhammad's wife.

'A'isha, the mother of the believers, said that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was called to lead the funeral prayer of a child of the Ansar. I said: Allah's Messenger, there is happiness for this child who is a bird from the birds of Paradise for it committed no sin nor has he reached the age when one can commit sin. He said: 'A'isha, per adventure, it may be otherwise, because God created for Paradise those who are fit for it while they were yet in their father's loins and created for Hell those who are to go to Hell. He created them for Hell while they were yet in their father's loins. Muslim:2662c 

If you are tracking the story from the beginning, it is obvious that since destiny is written before birth, then it doesn't matter if they commit any action or not -- the decision was made. 'Pens are lifted, pages are dried'.

Adam's repentance through Allah's inspiration:

And We said, 'O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat therefrom in [ease and] abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.' But Satan caused them to slip out of it and removed them from that [condition] in which they had been. And We said, 'Go down, [all of you], as enemies to one another, and you will have upon the earth a place of settlement and provision for a time.' Then Adam received from his Lord [some] words, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful [Qu'ran 2:37]

These verses indicate that after Adam disobeyed Allah, he was taught words of repentance by Allah, which he used to seek forgiveness. The Hadith below highlights the concept of predestination but also acknowledges Adam's repentance, as implied in the broader narrative that Allah inspires who he will to seek the right path others he leads astray.

Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Book 47, Hadith 3434:

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When Adam committed his mistake, he said: 'O my Lord, forgive me my sin.' So Allah said: 'O Adam, do you know your Lord?' Adam said: 'Yes, O my Lord, You created me with Your Hand.' He said: 'O Adam, do you know your sin?' Adam said: 'Yes, O my Lord, I disobeyed You.' He said: 'O Adam, do you know what my punishment is?' Adam said: 'Yes, O my Lord, my punishment is Your Hell.' He said: 'O Adam, do you know what My mercy is?' Adam said: 'Yes, O my Lord, My mercy is Your Paradise.' He said: 'Then it is My duty to forgive you.' So he repeated that three times."

By the way, if Adam was forgiven, why was he still kicked out of paradise? Predestination!

If you were not to commit sins, Allah would have swept you out of existence and would have replaced you by another people who have committed sin, and then asked forgiveness from Allah, and He would have granted them pardon. Muslim:2748b 

According to Islamic scriptures, everyone will go into hell and stay there until judgement day. Only the Godfearing would come out of it -- which means two things -- you should have been created for paradise and Allah must have inspired you to do right deeds during your lifetime.

Not one of you there is, but he shall go down to it; that for thy Lord is a thing decreed, determined.Then We shall deliver those that were godfearing; and the evildoers We shall leave there, hobbling on their knees. [Qu'ran 19:71-72, Arberry] 

It is the inevitable decree of your Lord that every one of you will be taken to hell. We will save the pious ones from the hell fire and leave the unjust people therein in crowded groups. [Qu'ran19:71-72 , Muhammad Sarwar]

Are you created for hellfire or paradise?

Do you know if you would come out from hellfire? Muhammad did not!

Islamic scriptures reveals a profound truth: Allah knows because He decrees, not the other way around.

Allah doesn't truly love everyone, because he did not give a fair chance to all.

Moral accountability for evil rests on Allah.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

1. The following excerpts are taken from Muslim scholar Hamza Yusuf’s translation of The Creed of Imam Al-Tahawi (Al-Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah), published by Zaytuna Institute, 2007 (*). The creed is a summary of orthodox Islamic beliefs written by a renowned Muslim jurist named Imam Abu Ja’far al-Tahawi (853–933 AD). It has long been recognized as one of the most accurate descriptions of the essentials of the Muslim faith.