The Sixth Pillar

Belief in Qadr (Divine Decree) brings peace to the heart. It is the conviction that everything happening in the universe—good or bad—occurs with Allah's knowledge, permission, and wisdom.

The Four Levels of Qadr

• Al-Ilm (Knowledge): Allah knows everything that will happen before it happens.
• Al-Kitab (Writing): Everything was written in the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz) 50,000 years before creation.
• Al-Mashiyyah (Will): Nothing happens unless Allah wills it.
• Al-Khalq (Creation): Allah is the Creator of everything, including our actions.

Free Will Paradox?

Islam teaches a balance. While Allah knows the outcome, humans are given free will to choose their path. We are judged on our choices/intentions, while the results are in Allah's hands. This realization cures anxiety: do your best, and trust the rest to Allah.