الْإِيمَانُ بِالْقَدَرِ

The sixth pillar is often the one that raises the most questions. "If everything is written, why make any effort?" The companions asked it too. Let us see what the sources say.

The four levels of destiny Scholars explain that believing in destiny means believing in four things: 1. Knowledge (al-'ilm): Allah knows everything, what was, what is and what will be (meaning of verse 22:70). 2. Writing (al-kitaaba): everything is written with Him. "No disaster strikes the earth or yourselves without it being written in a book before We bring it into being" (meaning of verse 57:22). Allah wrote the measures of creation fifty thousand years before creating the heavens and the earth (Muslim 2653). 3. Will (al-mashii'a): nothing happens unless Allah wills it. "You do not will unless Allah wills" (meaning of verse 81:29). 4. Creation (al-khalq): Allah is the Creator of all things, including our actions (meaning of verses 39:62 and 37:96).

And our freedom? Allah has given us a real will and the power to choose: "We guided him to the way: whether he is grateful or ungrateful" (meaning of verse 76:3); "Whoever wills, let him believe, and whoever wills, let him disbelieve" (meaning of verse 18:29). We do not know what is written for us: we really choose, and we are judged on our choices. When the companions asked: "Why act, if everything is written?", the Prophet ﷺ answered: "Act, for each person is made able to do what he was created for" (Bukhari 4949, Muslim 2647).

Effort and trust (at-tawakkul) • A man asked whether he should tie his camel or simply trust in Allah. Answer: "Tie it, and trust in Allah" (Tirmidhi 2517). • "The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, and there is good in each. Strive for what benefits you, ask Allah for help and do not give up. If something befalls you, do not say 'if only I had done this…', but say: 'Allah has decreed it, and He does what He wills'" (Muslim 2664). Revising for exams, training, seeking treatment, looking for work: that is tying your camel.

The good and the bad of destiny Trials are part of destiny: an illness, a failure, a loss. The believer responds to them with patience, and to blessings with gratitude: "Amazing is the affair of the believer: everything is good for him" (Muslim 2999). And Allah teaches: "so that you do not grieve over what has escaped you, nor exult over what He has given you" (meaning of verse 57:23). Listen to these two verses in the recitation block.

Challenge: think of a goal for this term. Write down what you will do (tie your camel) and the supplication you will make (trust in Allah).

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Destiny and freedom do not contradict each other. Allah knows everything in advance, but knowing is not forcing: a teacher may know that a student who never revises will fail, without forcing him not to revise. The comparison has its limits, since Allah's knowledge is perfect and nothing escapes His will, but it helps us understand that we are not robots. Sunni belief holds the middle ground between two old errors: saying that a person is forced in everything and so responsible for nothing; or saying that Allah does not know or decide in advance. We affirm at the same time Allah's knowledge, writing, will and creation, and the human being's will and responsibility. Destiny also has a part of mystery: we cannot understand all of it. Scholars advise us not to get lost in endless debates, but to hold on to what guides our lives. [À VÉRIFIER : manière dont l'imam souhaite traiter les questions des ados sur le destin et le mal] Common misunderstandings: using destiny as an excuse for your own faults ("it was written") while refusing that excuse to others; giving up on effort; thinking that trusting Allah means preparing nothing; thinking that a trial is necessarily a punishment.

Lessons to draw from it • Do your part fully, then leave the result to Allah: that is tawakkul. • After a failure, avoid the "if only" that eats away at you: learn, then move on (Muslim 2664). • In success, stay humble: all good comes from Allah. • You do not know your destiny: so choose good today.

Key points to remember • Four levels: knowledge, writing, will, creation. • Real freedom and responsibility (76:3, 18:29); "Act, each is made able" (Bukhari 4949). • "Tie it, and trust in Allah" (Tirmidhi 2517). • Patience in trials, gratitude in blessings (Muslim 2999; 57:23).

The main message Believing in destiny means doing your best and then trusting Allah: it frees you from pride when all goes well and from despair when all goes badly.