The sixth article of faith is belief in divine decree (al-Qadar). This means believing that Allah knows everything, and that whatever happens does so by His will and perfect wisdom. Nothing occurs outside His knowledge, and all He decrees is full of wisdom, even when we do not understand it.
Allah knows and decrees all things
Allah's knowledge is complete: He knows the past, the present, and the future. Everything happens by His will and wisdom. This does not mean we have no choices; Allah has given us the ability to choose and act, and He knows what we will choose.
- Allah is the All-Knowing (al-ʿAlīm).
- His decree is always wise and just.
- We are still responsible for our own efforts and choices.
Effort and trust together
Belief in Qadar is not an excuse to do nothing. Islam teaches us to make our best effort and then place our trust in Allah. This trust is called tawakkul. The Prophet ﷺ taught the beautiful balance in the famous advice:
Tie your camel, and then trust in Allah.
Peace and gratitude
When we accept Allah's decree, we stop worrying about what we cannot change. If something good happens, we thank Allah. If a difficulty comes, we stay patient, knowing Allah is wise and merciful and that ease follows hardship.
- In good times: we are grateful.
- In hard times: we are patient and hopeful.
- In all times: we trust Allah's wisdom.
Living with tawakkul
We plan, prepare, and work hard, then leave the results to Allah with a calm and trusting heart. This is the peaceful balance that belief in Qadar teaches.
What Qadar does — and does not — mean
Belief in Qadar is misread more often than any other article of faith. The table sets the two apart.
| Qadar does mean | Qadar does not mean |
|---|---|
| Allah's knowledge is complete — past, present and future | That we have no choices to make |
| Everything happens by His will and wisdom | That we are not responsible for what we choose |
| We make our best effort, then trust Allah (tawakkul) | That effort is pointless, so we may do nothing |
| Peace of heart about what we cannot control | An excuse for laziness or for blaming fate |
The Prophet ﷺ gave the balance in a single sentence: “Tie your camel, and then trust in Allah.” The tying is your effort; the trust is your Qadar.
Effort or trust — which part of the balance is each one?
- Revising properly before the exam
- Locking the door when you leave
- Seeing a doctor when you are unwell
- Staying calm about the result once you have done your best
- Accepting an outcome you did not want, without despair
- Being grateful rather than anxious about the future