Fiqh al-Ibtala wa Aqdar Allah al-Mu'lima
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- Fiqh al-Ibtala wa Aqdar Allah al-Mu'lima
Fiqh al-Ibtala wa Aqdar Allah al-Mu'lima (The Understanding of Tribulation and Allah's Painful Decrees) is a contemporary Arabic Islamic treatise authored by Abu Faysal al-Badrani . The work examines the creedal principles of divine decree and predestination (al-qada wa-l-qadar), focusing primarily on painful divine decrees, the nature of worldly hardship, and the religious obligations and spiritual attitudes incumbent upon a Muslim when facing adversity .
Scope and Core Themes
The treatise begins with an exposition of the theological foundations of divine decree and predestination, defining them as Allah's predetermination of all created beings according to His eternal knowledge and wisdom . It outlines the four canonical levels of belief in destiny (maratib al-qadar): divine knowledge (al-ilm), inscription in the Preserved Tablet (al-kitaba), divine will (al-mashi'a), and creation (al-khalq) . It classifies predetermination into five divisions: general (al-taqdir al-amm), human (al-taqdir al-bashari), lifetime (al-taqdir al-umri), annual (al-taqdir al-sanawi), and daily (al-taqdir al-yawmi) . It also distinguishes between the unalterable decree recorded in the Mother of the Book (al-qadar al-muthbat or al-mubram) and the contingent decree recorded in the scrolls of the angels (al-qadar al-mu'allaq or al-muqayyad), wherein erasure and confirmation occur .
The author addresses the relationship between human agency and divine will, affirming that human beings possess real choice and capacity, though their will remains subordinate to the overarching will and creation of Allah . Inscription in the Preserved Tablet reflects divine foreknowledge rather than compulsion .
The work elaborates on the divine wisdom (hikmah) behind trials and suffering, including the creation of Iblis and the manifestation of divine attributes, as well as the practical role of afflictions in purifying the heart of vices such as pride and self-delusion . It defines the proper boundaries of citing destiny (al-ihtijaj bi-l-qadar), and explains that divine decrees are also addressed and repelled through other ordained decrees, such as repelling an unlawful assailant (daf al-sail) .
Human Response to Painful Decrees
The book outlines three spiritual stations for a Muslim facing painful decrees :
- Patience (al-sabr): The obligatory baseline, wherein the individual endures the hardship and restrains the self from discontent, despite disliking the occurrence .
- Contentment (al-rida): A recommended station, wherein the presence or absence of the affliction feels equivalent to the individual, carrying no unbearable inward burden .
- Gratitude (al-shukr): The highest station, in which the servant actively thanks Allah for the affliction, recognizing it as a means for expiating sins and multiplying rewards .
Sources and Compilation
In the conclusion of the treatise, Abu Faysal al-Badrani notes that the work was compiled with slight adaptation from the writings, articles, and legal verdicts (fatawa) of contemporary scholars, specifically naming Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, Nasir al-Umar, Umar al-Muqbil, Haytham al-Kinani, Ibrahim al-Azraq, and Ali ibn Sa'id al-Ubaydi, alongside material from Islamic educational websites such as the Islamweb Fatwa Center and al-Moslim .
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