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Is Hell predetermined for a person before their birth, based on the angel's declaration that they will be an disbeliever while still in the womb? And are we informed of this in the world of spirits and choose this life due to our ambitions?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Allah decreed all things in eternity and inscribed them in the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz) fifty thousand years before the creation of the heavens and the earth, as stated by Allah Almighty: (Indeed, We created all things with a [divine] decree). Writing is of three types: 1. Writing in the Preserved Tablet, which is the primordial and comprehensive writing for all creation. 2. The writing of lifetime at the creation of the sperm in the womb, where the lifespan, provision, deeds, and whether one is wretched or felicitous are inscribed. 3. The annual writing on Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree), in which everything that will happen in the coming year concerning provisions, life, and death is decreed.

Belief and disbelief are written, just like provision. The servant must work and strive without relying solely on destiny, for everyone is facilitated for what they were created for. What is written in the Preserved Tablet does not change, but what is written in the scrolls of the angels may change. We have not been informed of our destiny in the realm of spirits (alam al-arwah), but Allah took a covenant from the progeny of Adam to worship Him alone. Man has free will in his actions and will be held accountable for them. Allah Almighty said: (And say, "The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve"). As for the existence of a world preceding this world, there is no apparent evidence that can be relied upon.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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