Book 1: Faith

‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported God’s messenger as saying, “The first thing God created was the pen. He told it to write and when it asked Him what it should write He told it to write what was decreed, so it wrote what had taken place and what would take place to all eternity.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying that this is a tradition whose isnad is gharib.

Muslim b. Yasar said that when ‘Umar b. al-Khattab was questioned about the verse, “When your Lord took their offspring from the backs of the children of Adam...” ¹ he replied that he had heard God’s messenger say when he was questioned about it, “God created Adam, then passed His right hand over his back and brought forth from it his offspring, saying, ‘I have created these for paradise and they will do the deeds of those who go to paradise.’ He then passed his hand over his back and brought forth from it his offspring, saying, ‘I have created these for hell and they will do the deeds of those who go to hell’.” A man asked, “What is the good of doing anything, messenger of God?” to which God’s messenger replied, “When God creates a man for paradise He employs him in doing the deeds of those who will go to paradise, so that his final action before death is one of the deeds of those who go to paradise, for which He will bring him into paradise. But when He creates a man for hell He employs him in doing the deeds of those who will go to hell, so that his final action before death is one of the deeds of those who go to hell, for which He will bring him into hell.” Malik, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr said: God’s messenger came out with two books in his hands and asked, “Do you know what these two books are?” We replied, “No, messenger of God, unless you tell us.” Of the one in his right hand he said, “This is a book from the Lord of the universe containing the names of those who will go to paradise, as well as the names of their fathers and their tribes. It is completed to the last man, so there will never be any increase or diminution in their numbers.” Of the one in his left hand he then said, “This is a book from the Lord of the universe containing the names of those who will go to hell, as well as the names of their fathers and their tribes. It is completed to the last man, so there will never be any increase or diminution in their numbers.” His Companions asked, “What then, messenger of God, is the good of doing anything if the matter is already decided?” He replied, “Follow a right course and keep as near to it as you can, for the last act of one who is to go to paradise will be an act appropriate for those who go to paradise no matter what he may have done; but the last act of one who is to go to hell will be an act appropriate for those who go to hell no matter what he may have done.” God’s messenger then made a gesture with his hands throwing the books away and said, “Your Lord has decided everything about mankind; a section will be in paradise and a section in the blaze.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Khizama said that his father asked God’s messenger, “Tell me whether invocations we invoke, medicine we apply and caution we practise can avert anything God has decreed.” He replied, “They are a part of God’s decree ’ Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said: God’s messenger came out to us when we were arguing about God’s decree. He was angry and his face became so red that it looked as if pomegranate seeds had been burst open on his cheeks. He then said, “Is this what you were commanded to do, or was it for this purpose that I was sent to you? Your predecessors perished only when they argued about this matter. I adjure you, I adjure you, not to argue about it.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted something similar from ‘Amr b. Shu'aib from his father from his grandfather.

Abu Musa reported that he heard God’s messenger say, “God created Adam from a handful which he took from the whole of the earth; so the children of Adam are in accordance with the earth, some red, some white, some black, some a mixture, also smooth and rough, bad and good.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported that he heard God’s messenger say, “God created His creatures in darkness and cast some of His light upon them. Those on whom some of that light falls will have guidance, but those who are missed by it will go astray. On that account I say that the pen has no more to write about God’s knowledge.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Anas reported that God’s messenger often said, “O Thou who turnest the hearts about, establish my heart in Thy religion.” Anas said, “Prophet of God, do you fear for us who believe in you and in your message?” He replied, “Yes. The hearts are between two of God’s fingers and He turns them about as He wills.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Musa reported that God’s messenger said, “The heart is like a feather in desert country which the winds keep turning over and over.” Ahmad transmitted it.

‘Ali reported that God’s messenger said, “A man is not a believer till he believes in four things : he must testify that there is no god but God and that I am God’s messenger whom He sent with the truth ; he must believe in death and in the resurrection after death; and he must believe in the divine decree." Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported that God’s messenger said, “There are two classes among my people who have no portion in Islam, the Murji’a and the Qadariya." Tirmidhi transmitted it and said this is a gharib tradition.

Ibn ‘Umar said: I heard God’s messenger say, “Some of my people will be swallowed up and some will be metamorphosed. That will come about among those who declare God’s decree to be false." Abu Dawud transmitted it and Tirmidhi transmitted something similar.

He also reported God’s messenger as saying, “The Qadariya are the Magians of this people. If they are ill, do not visit them, and if they die, do not attend their funerals." Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not sit with those who believe in freewill and do not address them before they address you." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘A’isha reported that God’s messenger said, “There are six whom I have cursed, whom I pray that God may curse, and every prophet’s prayer is answered: He who makes additions to God’s Book, he who declares God’s decree to be false, he who rules proudly to exalt him whom God has humbled and humble him whom God has exalted, he who profanes God’s sacred area, he who considers he may do to my family what God has declared forbidden, and he who abandons my sunna.” Baihaqi transmitted it in the introduction and Razin in his book.

Matar b. ‘Ukamis reported God’s messenger as saying, “When God decrees that someone should die in a certain land, He gives him a reason for going there." Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘A’isha said: I asked, “Messenger of God, what happens to the offspring of believers?’’ He replied, “They are joined to their parents." I asked, “Although they have done nothing, messenger of God” lie replied, “God knows best what they were doing.” I asked, “What happens to the offspring of polytheists?” He replied, “They are joined to their parents.” I asked, “Although they have done nothing?” He replied, “God knows best what they were doing.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “The one who buries her daughter alive and the one who is buried alive go to hell.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.