Book 1: The Divine Pre-Decree and Ordainment of Allaah by Imam Saalih Al-Uthaimeen
This is a translation of a small booklet called “Al-Qadaa wal-Qadar (The Divine Pre-Decree and Ordainment of Allaah), which is a lecture from Imam Muhammad bin Saalih Al-Uthaimeen that was later transcribed and published. The current translation came from the Maktabat-ul-‘llm edition.
In this treatise, Shaikh Ibn Al Uthaimeen clarifies the correct belief of Ahlus-Sunnah with regard to the Divine Pre-Decree, while refuting the false notions of some groups who deviated with regard to this issue such as the Qadariyyah, who believe that Allaah has no part in a person’s actions, and the Jabariyyah, who believe that a person is forced to do perform his sayings an actions by Allaah. He then lists and discusses the four levels for believing in Allaah’s Divine Pre-Decree, which are: Knowledge, Recording, Will and Creation.
This booklet provides a basic and easy guide for beginning and intermediate students to learn and understand this fundamental aspect of the Religion, which is also one of the Six Pillars of Faith.
Book 2: What is Obligatory to Believe in Al-Qadaa wal-Qadar by Ibn Battah al-Ukbaree (rahimahullaah)
As for what is obligatory upon us to have knowledge of, and to attest to, and corroborate all of it in its entirety, then it is:
That we know that good and evil are from Allaah
That obedience and disobedience are from the Ordainment (qadaa) of Allaah and His decree (qadar)
And that whatever befalls us was never going to pass us by and what has passed us by was never going to befall us
And that Allaah created Paradise created inhabitants for it
He knew [such inhabitants] with their names and the names of their fathers, and He granted them success in [performing] righteous actions that He is pleased with
He ordered them with them (the righteous actions), then granted them success (in performing them), aided them (in performing them), acknowledged (their performance of them) and rewarded them with Paradise for their (performance),
as a bounty from Him and mercy (from Him).
That He created the Hellfire and created inhabitants for it
He knew their exact number, knew what would occur from them, and decreed upon them what He disliked (for it to occur) from them. He deserted them (i.e. not protecting them from falling into such matters, so they fell into such matters which He disliked to occur from them), and punished them due to (these actions) without being unjust towards them (in any of that).
And they are not excused in whatever judgement He has made upon them.
