al-Qada wal-Qadar - al-Ashqar

al-Qada wa-l-Qadar (Divine Decree and Predestination) is a theological treatise by the contemporary scholar Umar Sulayman al-Ashqar (d. 1433 AH / 2012 CE), examining the Sunni doctrine of divine decree and destiny in light of the Quran and the Sunnah Manhaj al-Shaykh Muhammad…+1.

Background and Scope

The work is devoted to elucidating belief in al-qada' wa-l-qadar as an essential pillar of Islamic faith, drawing upon textual proofs such as the hadith of Gabriel and related Quranic passages al-Qada wal-Qadar - al-As…+1. al-Ashqar frames the doctrine as central to the realization of divine omnipotence and monotheism (tawhid), citing classical formulations including the statement of Ahmad ibn Hanbal that destiny represents God's omnipotence (al-qadar qudrat Allah) and Ibn Abbas's remark that destiny is the organizing principle of tawhid al-Qada wal-Qadar - al-As…+1.

The book traces the historical emergence of theological disputes concerning free will and predestination. al-Ashqar notes that disputes over destiny did not exist among the early Muslim community during the lifetime of the Prophet or the early Caliphate al-Qada wal-Qadar - al-As…+1. He discusses the rise of the early negationist doctrines (al-qadariyyah) in Basra attributed to figures such as Sansawayh (or Sawsan) and Ma'bad al-Juhani, which were rejected by surviving Companions such as Abdullah ibn Umar, and their subsequent evolution under leaders of the Mu'tazilah including Wasil ibn Ata, Amr ibn Ubayd, and Ghaylan al-Dimashqi al-Qada wal-Qadar - al-As…+1.

Content and Structure

The book is structured around systematic definitions, levels of decree, theological disputations, and practical spiritual outcomes:

• Definitions: Clarification of the linguistic and technical meanings of al-qada' and al-qadar, citing definitions from scholars such as Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani and Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Saffarini al-Qada wal-Qadar - al-As….
• Levels of Decree: Analysis of the four foundational tiers of qadar recognized by Sunni theologians—divine knowledge, the recording in the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz), the universal divine will (al-mashiah), and divine creation (al-khalq)—alongside subordinate categories such as the annual decree determined on Laylat al-Qadr and the daily execution of divine governance al-Mawsuaa al-Aqadiyya+1.
• Theological Debates: Treatment of historical polemics between Sunni scholars and sectarian groups, citing well-known classical exchanges such as the debate between the Sunni theologian Abu Ishaq al-Isfarayini and the Mu'tazilite judge Qadi Abd al-Jabbar al-Mawsuaa al-Aqadiyya.
• Ethical and Practical Fruits: Refutation of fatalistic attitudes, clarifying that genuine belief in divine destiny does not justify passivity, laziness, or the abandonment of worldly causes and means (al-akhdh bi-l-asbab), but instead yields constructive psychological and societal benefits al-Qada wal-Qadar - al-As…+1.

Publication

The book has been printed in several editions by publishers including Maktabat al-Falah and Dar al-Nafa'is in Kuwait and Jordan, appearing in a third edition in 1411 AH / 1991 CE, with subsequent printings reaching a thirteenth edition in 1425 AH Manhaj al-Shaykh Muhammad…+1.