Risala fi al-Qada wa al-Qadar

Risala fi al-Qada wa al-Qadar (Treatise on Divine Decree and Predestination) is a concise theological treatise by the Saudi Hanbali scholar Ibn Uthaymin (d. 1421 AH / 2001 CE), outlining the Sunni doctrine concerning divine destiny, human choice, and theological disputes regarding predestination Mujam al-Tawhid+1.

Conceptual Framework and Definitions

In his exposition, Ibn Uthaymin defines qadar (predestination) as God's decree and ordaining of all created entities in accordance with His prior knowledge and wisdom Mawsuat Mawaqif al-Salaf …+1. Addressing the relationship between the two terms, he adopts the rule that qada (divine judgment/execution) and qadar are terms that are synonymous when mentioned separately, but carry distinct meanings when paired together al-Mutabar fi Aqidat Ahl …+1. When paired:

• Qadar refers to what God ordained in pre-eternity (al-azal) concerning His creation al-Mutabar fi Aqidat Ahl …+1.
• Qada refers to what God decrees and executes within His creation through bringing into being, nonexistence, or alteration al-Mutabar fi Aqidat Ahl …+1.

Consequently, qadar is antecedent to qada al-Mutabar fi Aqidat Ahl …+1.

The Four Levels of Belief in Divine Decree

The work structures belief in qadar around four fundamental levels (maratib):

1. Knowledge (al-Ilm): Affirming that God's eternal knowledge encompasses everything in general and in detail, whether relating to His own actions or the actions of His creatures Mawsuat Mawaqif al-Salaf …+1.
2. Writing (al-Kitaba): Affirming that God recorded the destinies of all creation in the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz) fifty thousand years before the creation of the heavens and the earth Mawsuat Mawaqif al-Salaf …+1.
3. Will (al-Mashi'a): Affirming that everything in existence occurs solely by God's universal will, encompassing both divine actions and the actions of created beings Mawsuat Mawaqif al-Salaf …+1.
4. Creation (al-Khalq): Affirming that God is the sole Creator of all entities and occurrences, including the actions and deeds of human beings Majallat al-Bayan+1.

Human Agency and Refutation of Opposing Views

Addressing the question of human choice and whether individuals are compelled (musayyar) or granted absolute free will (mukhayyar), the text states that human beings possess genuine will and intention, but that human will remains subordinate to the overarching will of God Mawsuat Mawaqif al-Salaf ….

Through this middle position, the work critiques two opposing theological extremes:

• The Qadariyyah (represented historically by early figures such as Ma'bad al-Juhani and later adopted by the Mu'tazila), who denied divine predetermination of human actions and claimed that humans create their actions entirely independently of divine decree Sharh Lamiyat Ibn Taymiyy…+1.
• The Jabriyyah (associated with the followers of Jahm ibn Safwan), who claimed that humans are entirely coerced without free will, a position that invalidates moral responsibility and religious obligations Mawsuat Mawaqif al-Salaf …+1.