EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA — Belief in qada and qadar, or divine decree, should not lead Muslims to stop making an effort. Divine decree should be understood alongside ikhtiar, prayer, and acceptance of the outcome after every reasonable effort has been made.
Fajar Rachmadhani, a member of the Muhammadiyah Central Board’s Council for Religious Preaching, made the remarks during the Pengajian Malam Selasa study session on Monday (14/9). In the session, Fajar explained the fourth hadith of Arbain Nawawi. Those are narrated by Imam al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim from Abdullah ibn Mas’ud.
Fajar explained that the hadith mentions four matters decreed for every human being: provision, lifespan, deeds, and whether a person will ultimately be among the happy or the wretched.
However, he said, the hadith should not be reduced to the conclusion that every aspect of human life has already been determined and that people therefore need only wait for the final outcome.
“This hadith is not teaching us to be passive in life. No,” Fajar said firmly.
He noted that the Prophet’s companions themselves questioned the implications of divine decree. If someone’s fate in the afterlife had already been determined, why should people still be commanded to perform good deeds?
According to Fajar, the Prophet answered by instructing Muslims to continue doing good. He then conveyed the principle fa kullu muyassarun lima khuliqa lahu. It means that everyone will be facilitated toward what they were created for.
“The Prophet said we should keep doing good and make every possible effort,” Fajar said.
Ahlussunnah, Jabariyah, and Qadariyah on Divine Decree
Fajar explained that this understanding distinguishes the Ahlussunnah position from views that use divine decree as reasons to abandon effort. He described Jabariyah as a theological view that denies human free will. Qadariyah, moreover, places excessive emphasis on human will and, in doing so, overlooks God’s will.
According to Fajar, the middle position recognizes human will while maintaining that it remains within God’s will.
“Ahlussunnah believes that when Allah created human beings, He gave them the will to choose. But human will does not exist outside Allah’s will,” he explained.
For this reason, Fajar cautioned against using the expression qaddarallahu wa ma sya’a fa’al to justify laziness or failure resulting from a lack of effort.
He referred to a series of teachings from the Prophet urging Muslims to pursue what benefits them, seek Allah’s help, and not easily give up.
Balancing Ikhtiar and Tawakal
“After the Prophet said, in simple terms, ‘work seriously.’ It means ikhtiar to the fullest and study diligently. That is ihris ‘ala ma yanfa’uk. But then the Prophet said, wasta’in billah,” Fajar said.
Fajar emphasized that ikhtiar and tawakal must go hand in hand. After making every possible effort and seeking Allah’s help, Muslims are encouraged not to despair when the outcome does not match their expectations.
When a misfortune has already occurred, however, the Prophet;s teaching is to accept Allah’s decree rather than remain trapped in regret by imagining how things might have turned out differently.
“So, qadarullah wa ma sya’a fa’ala means that we accept whatever the outcome is, whether we like it or not, after going through all those processes. That is the Ahlussunnah principle.
With this understanding, Fajar urged the jama’ah to place divine decree after ikhtiar, rather than use it as a substitute for effort. What has already happened, he said, is Allah’s decree. A person’s responsibility is to continue doing good and making an effort for as long as opportunities remain.
Therefore, this is how Ahlussunnah understands al-qada and qadar: what has happened has happened. Let it be, because it is Allah’s decree, and surely it is what is best,” he concluded.
