Do misfortunes hit us because Allah preordained them?

Dear Brother / Sister,

9.1.12- A misfortune comes if Allah preordained it

A believer knows that what is not recorded in qadar will not happen. The same thing is valid for misfortunes. The following is stated in verses 22 and 23 of the chapter of al-Hadid:

“No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence: That is truly easy for Allah: In order that ye may not despair over matters that pass you by, nor exult over favors bestowed upon you. For Allah loveth not any vainglorious boaster.”¹

It is explained in the verse above that everything is included in qadar, and that misfortunes are also determined in advance. This is very easy for Allah. Furthermore, a believer who has suffered something should say, “since it has happened, it exists in qadar”; he should not be sad about what he has lost; if he has been given a blessing, he should not be spoiled.

Verse 51of the chapter of at-Tawba also clarifies the issue. When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was granted a victory and booty, the hypocrites would not rejoice but when the believers were hit by a misfortune (defeat, harm and death) in a war, they would boast by saying, “We secured ourselves by not taking part in the war.” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was given the following order related to that attitude of the hypocrites:

“Say: ‘Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector’: and on Allah let the Believers put their trust.”²

Thus, everything, whether good or bad, that happens to man is based on Allah’s qada and qadar. When a believer is hit by a misfortune, he should say, “Since it has happened, it exists in qadar. Allah is my helper; I trust in Him. I show consent to His qadar and qada; there are definitely wisdoms behind it.” He should show patience and consent to misfortunes. The following principle necessitates it: “Man amanabil-qadaraminamin al-kadar = He who believes in qadar becomes free of distress.”

However, a Muslim cannot commit a sin by deciding to commit it and saying, “That is divine predestination.” Similarly, he cannot say, “That was divine predestination” by blaming qadar; he cannot acquit himself like that.³ Showing consent to unbelief is regarded as unbelief; a person who shows consent to unbelief becomes an unbeliever; similarly, showing consent to sins makes a person a sinner.

It is not appropriate to understand showing consent to qadar like that. In the example above, the person shows consent to a sin. However, Allah is not pleased with that sin since He prohibited that sin. Allah is the Creator of everything, whether good or evil. It is necessary to accept it and show consent. However, one should not commit a crime with which Allah is not pleased and should not blame qadar by saying, “That existed in qadar”. There is no decree in the verses of the Quran and hadiths stating that one should show consent to unbelief and sins and commit them. Besides, man was given will for responsibility; qadar exists in the principles of belief so as to save man from pride and conceit.

1.al-Hadid, 22-23; see alsoTaftazani, Sharhul-Aqaid, p. 192, 203, 221-222, 234-235; Watt, p. 108, 110, 118, 128-130, 392.
2.at-Tawba, 52; Aydın, p. 362.
3.Aydın, p. 369; Gölcük, Kelam Açısından İnsan ve Fiilleri, p. 231-232.

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