Divine Decree in Womb and Free Will
đSahih Muslim 2643 a | Bukhari 7454
Abdullah (b. Masâud) reported that Allahâs Messenger (ï·ș) who is the most truthful (of the human beings) and his being truthful (is a fact) said: Verily your creation is on this wise. The constituents of one of you are collected for forty days in his motherâs womb in the form of blood, after which it becomes a clot of blood in another period of forty days. Then it becomes a lump of flesh and forty days later Allah sends His angel to it with instructions concerning four things, so the angel writes down his livelihood, his death, his deeds, his fortune and misfortune. By Him, besides Whom there is no god, that one amongst you acts like the people deserving Paradise until between him and Paradise there remains but the distance of a cubit, when suddenly the writing of destiny overcomes him and he begins to act like the denizens of Hell and thus enters Hell, and another one acts in the way of the denizens of Hell, until there remains between him and Hell a distance of a cubit that the writing of destiny overcomes him and then he begins to act like the people of Paradise and enters Paradise.
Description:
This hadith shows that key parts of our lives, lifespan, provision, deeds, and ultimate fate, are written before birth. But this writing doesnât mean weâre forced:
- Allah is outside time; He sees past, present, and future all at once.
- Before you were born, Allah saw the choices youâd freely make, whether good or evil, and recorded them accordingly.
- So your destiny is âpredestinedâ not because youâre compelled, but because Allah perfectly knows your choices beforehand.
- Importantly, Allah can change what is written if you sincerely repent, make duâa, and strive to do good â because He is able to alter destiny based on your actions.
This means youâre fully responsible for your choices, but Allahâs mercy leaves the door open for your fate to improve.
Releted:Â Free Will and Predestination
Key Quranic Verses:
đQuran 13:11
Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.
This proves that change is possible, our sincere efforts can bring a better destiny.
đQuran 2:286
Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bearâŠ
Allahâs decree never forces a person to do evil, responsibility remains with the individual, within their ability.
đQuran 6:17
And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He; and if He intends any good for you, none can repel His bounty. He causes it to reach whom He wills of His servantsâŠ
This verse clearly shows Allah can change harm to good (or vice versa) according to His wisdom, confirming He can alter what was decreed.
Summary:
Your lifeâs outcome is written based on what Allah saw you would choose. You are free in your choices, and through repentance and effort, Allah can change your destiny. proving that qadr is perfectly balanced with free will and mercy.