The Qadariyyah and Jabriyyah — Denying and Exaggerating Predestination
🎯 The Qadariyyah and Jabriyyah — Predestination Between Denial and Exaggeration
"Allah wrote the destinies of creation fifty thousand years before creating the heavens and the earth."
— The Prophet ﷺ [Muslim 2653]
📖 Introduction
The question of predestination (al-qadar) is one of the deepest in Islamic theology. It touches upon Allah's nature, His knowledge, His will, and human responsibility.
Two groups went astray on this matter:
- The Qadariyyah: denied that human actions are created by Allah
- The Jabriyyah: denied that humans have real choice
Between them, Ahl as-Sunnah maintained the perfect balance.
📜 Part 1: The Importance of Believing in Predestination
The Sixth Pillar of Faith
The Hadith of Jibril:
When Jibril عليه السلام asked the Prophet ﷺ: "What is faith?"
He replied: "That you believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and that you believe in predestination, its good and its evil."
[Muslim 8]
The Four Levels of Predestination
| Level | Meaning | Proof |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Knowledge (العلم) | Allah knows everything eternally | ﴿Indeed, Allah is Knowing of all things﴾ |
| 2. Writing (الكتابة) | Everything is written in the Preserved Tablet | ﴿And all things We have enumerated in a clear register﴾ |
| 3. Will (المشيئة) | What Allah wills is, what He doesn't will isn't | ﴿And you do not will except that Allah wills﴾ |
| 4. Creation (الخلق) | Allah is Creator of all things | ﴿Allah is the Creator of all things﴾ |
⚔️ Part 2: The Qadariyyah — Deniers of Predestination
Definition
The Qadariyyah are those who denied that the servants' actions are predestined by Allah. They claim that man creates his own actions independently of Allah.
The Founder: Ma'bad al-Juhani
📜 SCENE: The Emergence of Destiny Denial — Basra, ~80 H
A circle of students listens to Ma'bad al-Juhani.
Ma'bad al-Juhani: "Things occur without Allah having predestined them! Man is the creator of his own actions!"
A student: "But the Prophet ﷺ spoke of predestination in the hadith of Jibril!"
Ma'bad: "Allah does not know things before they occur. He discovers them when they happen!"
This statement reaches the living Companions. They disavow him.
The Reaction of Ibn 'Umar
📜 SCENE: Ibn 'Umar's Disavowal — Medina, ~80 H
A man comes to Ibn 'Umar رضي الله عنهما.
The man: "Some people among us recite the Quran and seek knowledge, then they claim there is no predestination, and that matters occur spontaneously!"
Ibn 'Umar (firmly): "When you meet these people, tell them that I disassociate from them and they disassociate from me!"
The man: "O Abu 'Abd ar-Rahman..."
Ibn 'Umar: "By Him by Whom 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar swears! If one of them possessed gold equal to Uhud and spent it, Allah would not accept it from him until he believes in predestination!"
[Muslim 8]
Their False Beliefs
| Qadarite Belief | Refutation |
|---|---|
| "Allah doesn't know things before they happen" | ﴿And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him﴾ [Al-An'am: 59] |
| "Nothing is written in the Preserved Tablet" | ﴿No disaster strikes... except that it is in a register﴾ [Al-Hadid: 22] |
| "Man creates his own actions" | ﴿Allah is the Creator of all things﴾ [Az-Zumar: 62] |
| "Man's will is independent" | ﴿And you do not will except that Allah wills﴾ [Al-Insan: 30] |
Their Severity
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"القدرية مجوس هذه الأمة"
"The Qadariyyah are the Magians of this Ummah."
[Abu Dawud 4691, Hasan]
Why "Magians"? The Zoroastrian Magians believe in two creators (of good and evil). The Qadariyyah do the same: they make man a creator alongside Allah!
🌀 Part 3: The Jabriyyah — Exaggeration in Predestination
Definition
The Jabriyyah are those who exaggerated in affirming predestination to the point of denying that man has a will or real choice. For them, man is like a feather in the wind or a dead leaf carried by the current.
The Leader: Jahm ibn Safwan
📜 SCENE: The Doctrine of Compulsion — Transoxiana, ~120 H
Disciple: "O Jahm, does man have a choice?"
Jahm ibn Safwan: "Man has no choice! He is compelled in all his actions. His movements are like trees moving in the wind!"
Disciple: "But then, why does Allah punish him?"
Jahm: "It is Allah's decree. Man is compelled, even in punishment."
Disciple (perplexed): "If man has no choice, how can he be responsible?"
Jahm: "..."
Their False Beliefs
| Jabrite Belief | Absurd Consequence |
|---|---|
| "Man has no real action" | Then why does Allah say: ﴿A recompense for what they used to do﴾? |
| "Man has no choice" | Then why does Allah say: ﴿Whoever wills, let him believe﴾? |
| "Man is compelled" | Then punishing the compelled = injustice (and Allah is free from that) |
| "No difference between good and evil" | Annulment of morality and responsibility |
The Absurdity of Their Position
📜 SCENE: The Logical Test
A Sunni asks a Jabrite.
Sunni: "According to you, man has no choice?"
Jabrite: "Exactly! Everything is compelled."
Sunni: "What difference do you make between raising your hand voluntarily and shivering from cold?"
Jabrite: "Uh... both are decreed by Allah."
Sunni: "But you yourself feel the difference! You know when you act by choice and when you're compelled. This awareness proves you have a choice!"
Jabrite (silent): "..."
Sunni: "And if man truly had no choice, why would Allah send prophets? Why give commands to someone who cannot obey?"
Refutation from the Quran
| Verse | Refutation |
|---|---|
| ﴿A recompense for what they used to do﴾ [As-Sajdah: 17] | Allah attributed the action to them |
| ﴿Whoever wills may take a path to his Lord﴾ [Al-Muzzammil: 19] | Allah affirmed their will |
| ﴿It will have what it earned, and it will bear what it deserved﴾ [Al-Baqarah: 286] | Allah attributed acquisition and responsibility to them |
⚖️ Part 4: The Position of Ahl as-Sunnah
The Perfect Balance
The Golden Rule:
"The servant truly acts, and Allah is the Creator of his action."
Both are true:
- ✅ Allah has predestined everything and creates everything
- ✅ Man acts by his choice and will
How to Reconcile?
| Question | Answer of Ahl as-Sunnah |
|---|---|
| "If everything is predestined, why act?" | Predestination includes causes. Work is a cause of success. |
| "If Allah knew I would sin, can I avoid it?" | You don't know what Allah wrote. Act according to His command. |
| "Am I free or compelled?" | You're free in your choice, but your freedom itself is created by Allah. |
The Final Comparative Table
| Aspect | Qadariyyah | Jabriyyah | Ahl as-Sunnah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allah's Knowledge | ❌ Denied | ✅ Affirmed | ✅ Affirmed |
| Writing of Destiny | ❌ Denied | ✅ Affirmed | ✅ Affirmed |
| Allah's Will | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Absolute | ✅ Absolute |
| Creation of Actions | ❌ By man | ✅ By Allah alone | ✅ By Allah |
| Man's Choice | ✅ Affirmed | ❌ Denied | ✅ Affirmed |
| Responsibility | ✅ Affirmed | ❌ Absurd | ✅ Affirmed |
📖 Part 5: Dialogue with 'Umar ibn al-Khattab
📜 SCENE: The Thief and Destiny — Medina, Era of 'Umar
A thief is brought before 'Umar رضي الله عنه.
'Umar: "Why did you steal?"
The thief (cunning): "It was Allah's destiny! It was written that I would steal!"
'Umar (wisely): "Cut off his hand!"
The thief: "But it's destiny!"
'Umar: "Exactly! And my cutting your hand is also Allah's destiny! You cannot justify yourself with destiny, because punishment is also part of destiny!"
Lesson: One cannot use destiny as an excuse to disobey, because punishment is part of the same destiny.
🎯 Part 6: Contemporary Case Studies
Case 1: "It's fate!"
📜 SCENE: The Lazy Student — Today
Student (after failing): "It's fate! It was written that I would fail!"
Teacher: "Did you study?"
Student: "No, but if I was destined to succeed, I would have succeeded!"
Teacher: "Destiny includes causes. Studying is a cause of success. You didn't implement the cause, so you didn't get the result. That's the real destiny!"
Rule: ✅ Destiny does not exempt from taking causes. Trust in Allah accompanies effort.
Case 2: "If Allah knew I would sin..."
Situation: Someone says: "If Allah knew I would sin, why punish me? It's not my fault!"
| Response |
|---|
| 1. You don't know what Allah wrote for you |
| 2. You chose to sin — no one forced you |
| 3. Allah's knowledge doesn't cause your action |
| 4. Destiny doesn't remove responsibility |
Case 3: Destructive Fatalism
Situation: A sick person refuses treatment saying: "If Allah wants to heal me, He will heal me!"
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"تداووا عباد الله، فإن الله لم يضع داء إلا وضع له شفاء"
"Seek treatment, O servants of Allah! For Allah has not created a disease without creating a cure for it."
[Abu Dawud 3855, Sahih]
Rule: ✅ Seeking treatment is a cause that destiny includes. Refusing causes is not trust, it's negligence.
Case 4: "I was born this way!"
Situation: Someone justifies their sins saying: "It's my nature, Allah created me this way!"
| Response |
|---|
| 1. Allah also created you with the ability to choose |
| 2. He sent you prophets and guides |
| 3. Inclinations are not excuses |
| 4. Fighting desires is rewarded |
💡 Pause and Reflection
The Wisdom of the Middle Way
Two Extremes Regarding Divine Decree
Qadariyyah ❌
Denial of Decree
Servant creates his own action
Allah doesn't know before things happen
Denial of decree and destiny
Jabriyyah ❌
Exaggeration of Decree
Servant is compelled in his actions
Man has no choice
Removal of responsibility
Personal Questions
- Do you use "fate" as an excuse not to act?
- Do you trust in Allah while taking causes?
- Do you take responsibility for your choices?
- Do you avoid destructive fatalism?
📊 Lesson Summary
| Concept | Definition |
|---|---|
| Qadariyyah | Deniers of destiny — say man creates his actions |
| Jabriyyah | Exaggerators — say man has no choice |
| The 4 Levels | Knowledge, Writing, Will, Creation |
| Sunni Position | Allah creates everything + man has real choice |
| Practical Rule | Take causes + trust in Allah |
🎯 Conclusion
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"اعملوا فكل ميسر لما خُلق له"
"Act! For everyone is facilitated toward that for which he was created."
[Al-Bukhari 4949, Muslim 2647]
Eternal Lessons
- ✅ Believing in destiny is a pillar of faith
- ✅ Taking causes doesn't contradict trust in Allah
- ✅ Denying human choice leads to absurdity
- ✅ Denying destiny contradicts Allah's lordship
My Lord, increase me in knowledge