A Simple Guide to ISLAM
Taqdir – Predestination
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TAQDIR – PREDESTINATION
Taqdir
(predestination) forms part of the fundamental beliefs of
Islam. This is the sixth article of faith.
Taqdir
in Arabic is also
called
Al-Qadha-o-al Qadr
, which means to “measure out” or
“pre-ordering.”
Taqdir means belief in God’s having for all eternity, predetermined
and decreed all things, good as well as bad. Nothing can happen of
itself in the world, good or evil. God has created this universe with
His Power, His knowledge, His wisdom and His will and has set for
it a certain course. Then He has ordained a law, which may be
called the law of nature, for the physical, animal and human world.
Everything in this universe. The Qur'an says:
“The Lord has created and balanced all things and has
fixed their destinies and guided them.” (87:2)
Nothing can befall us but what God has destined for us.
“We have created all things according to a fixed
decree.” (54:49)
For all of His creation God has set a course to follow. Nothing can
deviate from the path set by God. In this respect the movements of
the sun, moon, the stars and planets, the rotation of the earth, the
laws of cause and effect working behind the growth and function of
all natural phenomena the existence of all living creatures including
human beings, their life and death—all are governed by natural
laws. In religious terminology this is the divine
taqdir
.
