Acknowledging Allah’s Will and Human Agency

📖Sunan Abi Dawud 4980
Narrated Hudhayfah: The Prophet ﷺ said: Do not say: ‘What Allah wills and so-and-so wills,’ but say: ‘What Allah wills and then so-and-so wills.’”

Explanation:

This hadith teaches pure Tawheed (Oneness of Allah).
Saying “Allah and someone else willed it” puts Allah and a human on the same level in decision-making. That’s shirk in speech (minor shirk). But saying “what Allah wills, and then what so-and-so wills” keeps Allah’s will first and superior, and the human’s will secondary and dependent.

Why?
Because everything ultimately happens by Allah’s will – even your own choices.

What We Learn Today:

1. Be careful with your words — Saying things like “I succeeded because Allah and my boss helped me” may sound innocent, but it must be phrased properly. Say:
   ➤ “Allah willed it, then my boss helped.”

2. Free will exists — but under divine control

• You choose to lie, kill, commit zina, or do good.
• But it only happens if Allah allows it to happen. That’s His will overriding all creation.
• This is not permission or approval – it’s universal will, not legislative will.

1. Good things come only by Allah’s will

   • If you got a job, had a baby, healed from sickness – it wasn’t just effort. It was divine mercy and decision.

Examples of Forbidden Things (You chose – Allah allowed):

These actions are haram in the Qur’an. You are responsible if you do them, even though nothing happens without Allah’s will:

• Murder – 📖Quran 17:33
  “Do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right…”

• Rape/sexual transgression – 📖Quran 24:2
  “The woman or man guilty of fornication, flog each one of them with a hundred stripes…”

• Adultery – 📖Quran 17:32
  “Do not come near zina, for it is a shameful deed and an evil way.”

These are your free choices, but Allah allows them to happen in His creation as a test – not because He approves them.

Hadith Meaning: When You Attribute Something Good

This hadith refers to good events or outcomes – don’t say “you and Allah willed it,” but say “Allah willed it first, then you.” Because:

• Success, healing, mercy, provision – all originate from Allah’s direct will
• People may help, but only because Allah willed their help to be effective

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Quranic Context:

📖Quran 18:23-24
“And never say of anything, ‘I will do that tomorrow,’ without adding, ‘If Allah wills.’”
— Even your future plans must acknowledge Allah’s will above all.

📖Quran 76:30
“But you cannot will, unless Allah wills. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”
— Your will exists, but it only works within Allah’s supreme will.

📖Quran 81:29
“And you do not will except that Allah wills — Lord of the worlds.”
— Repeated confirmation that human intention is subject to divine permission.