What is the difference between "its good and its bad" and "its sweet and its bitter" in the context of belief in divine preordainment (Al-Qadar)?
Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 2026
The phrase "its sweet and its bitter" as an addition to "its good and its evil" appeared in several hadiths, such as the lengthy of 'Umar in the story of Gabriel, the hadith of Ibn 'Umar, and the hadith of 'Adi ibn Hatim. Al-Albani deemed this addition weak in some of its narrations.
Assuming its authenticity, it falls under the category of emphasizing meaning. The phrase "its good and its evil" is more general than "its sweet and its bitter," for good may be bitter, and evil may be sweet, as Allah Almighty says: (And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you).
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported
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