🔮 Unraveling Qadar (قدر): The Islamic Concept of Predestination
Definition
Qadar (قدر) generally refers to the Islamic notion of predestination or fate. It embodies the belief that everything that happens, good or bad, is preordained by Allah (God) and within His supreme knowledge and control. This term is often delineated within Islamic theology alongside Qadha’ (قضاء), which signifies God’s execution of His collective decisions.
Etymology
The term “Qadar” is rooted in the Arabic verb (قَدَرَ), which means “measuring out” or “estimating.” The lexical meaning highlights the measured and deliberate creation; Allah’s precise and meticulous planning from the smallest to the grandest matters.
Quranic Reference
One of the key Quranic chapters associated with Qadar is Surah Al-Qadr (القدر), the XCVIIth Surah, which discusses the Night of Decree—“Laylat al-Qadr”—when the Quran is believed to have been revealed.
Background and Cultural Dimensions
Qadar is a cornerstone of Islamic belief, constituting one of the six articles of faith that a Muslim must believe in. This concept intersects with ideas encompassing divine omniscience, omnipotence, and wisdom:
- Islamic View: Muslims affirm that both the good and the bad, pain and joy, successes and failures, are part of Allah’s divine plan and wisdom.
- Cultural Variations: Across the diverse Islamic world, interpretations and emphases of Qadar can vary. In some cultural contexts, this belief might lead to a more fatalistic outlook, while others might stress human responsibility within the framework of divine will.
Comparative Theology
Similar to the concept of predestination in Christianity, most notably Augustine’s doctrines, and in Calvinism. In Eastern religions like Hinduism, Karma is perceived akin to a law of cause and effect, though lacking the singular divine orchestration seen in Qadar.
Synonyms and Related Terms
- Synonyms:
- Divine Predestination
- Destiny
- Fate
- Related Terms and Definitions:
- Taqdir (تقدير): Often discussed in conjunction with Qadar, emphasizing the determination, measurement, and divine decree.
- Qadha’ (قضاء): Refers to the execution or implementation of the predetermined decrees.
Antonyms
- Free will (حرية الإرادة): The concept arguing that humans operate independent of predestined outcomes.
- Independence (استقلالية): Acting free of divine orchestration.
Exciting Facts
- Laylat al-Qadr, mentioned in the Quran, is believed to be better than a thousand months and is a special night of divine mercy and decree.
- Qadar is heavily debated in classical Islamic theology, especially among different Islamic schools like Ash’arism and Mu’tazilism, each emphasizing divine attributes and human agency differently.
Quotations
- “No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being - indeed that, for Allah, is easy.” — Quran 57:22
- “Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.” — Jean-Paul Sartre.
Suggested Literature
- The Divine Decree (Qadar) by Yasir Qadhi
- Islam: The Straight Path by John L. Esposito
- Theology and Creed in Sunni Islam by A. Hassan
- Predestination in Islam: Qadar and Free Will by A. Ghamidi
Quizzes
May this exploration into the profound concept of Qadar (قدر) inspire you to delve deeper into the depths of divine wisdom and human destiny. Faith is not merely in knowing the end but in trusting the journey appointed by the Creator.
By Ahmed Al-Hakim, 2023.
