Does a human being do what is written in destiny, or is what a human being does that which was written in destiny? And are we predetermined or are we given free choice, based on hadiths such as: "Indeed, Allah Almighty created Adam (peace be upon him), then He wiped his back with His right hand, and extracted from it offspring, and He said: 'I have created these for Paradise, and they will act with the deeds of the people of Paradise.' Then He wiped his back, and extracted from it offspring, and He said: 'I have created these for Hell, and they will act with the deeds of the people of Hell.' A man then asked: 'O Messenger of Allah, then what is the purpose of action?' The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Indeed, when Allah Almighty creates a servant for Paradise, He employs him with the deeds of the people of Paradise, until he dies upon one of the deeds of the people of Paradise, and He admits him into Paradise thereby. And when He creates a servant for Hell, He employs him with the deeds of the people of Hell, until he dies upon one of the deeds of the people of Hell, and He admits him into Hell thereby,'" and the hadith: "Act, for everyone will be facilitated for that for which he was created"?
The questioner is advised to completely turn away from obsessive thoughts, especially concerning matters of divine decree (Qadar), for it is Allah Almighty's secret among His creation. Delving deeply into it is a cause for disappointment, and questioning it has been forbidden. The cure for obsessive thoughts is to turn away from them. If one does not pay attention to them, they will disappear after a short while. But whoever listens to them will find them increasing until they lead to madness. Whoever is afflicted with obsessive thoughts should seek refuge in Allah and desist.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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