XVI.—THE DECREES OF GOD.
Taqdi′r, or the absolute decree and predestination of both good and evil, is the sixth article of the Muslim's creed. The orthodox belief is that whatever hath or shall come to pass in this world, whether it be good or bad, proceedeth entirely from the divine will, and is irrevocably fixed and recorded in the preserved tablet (Lahw-ul-Mahfúz).[1]
Of this doctrine Muhammad makes great use in his Qurán, and all those who have had any practical acquaintance with the lives of Muammadans, know well to what extent it influences the daily life of every Muslim. It is not only urged as a source of consolation in every trial, but as a palliation of every crime. "It was written in my taqdír" (fate), is an excuse familiar to every European who has had much intercourse with Muslim servants or soldiers.
The following is a translation of an Arabic treatise on the subject: "Faith in the decrees of God, is that we believe in our heart and confess with our tongue that the most High God hath decreed all things so that nothing can happen in the world, whether it respects the conditions and operations of things, or good and evil, or obedience and disobedience, or faith and infidelity, or sickness and health, or riches and poverty, or life and death, that is not contained in the written tablet of the decrees of God. But God hath so decreed good works, obedience, and faith, that He ordains and wills them, and that they may be under His decree, His salutary direction, His good pleasure and command. On the contrary, God hath decreed, and does ordain and determine evil, disobedience, and infidelity; yet without His salutary direction, good pleasure and command, but being only by way of seduction, indignation, and prohibition. But whosoever shall say that God is not delighted with good faith, or that God hath not an indignation against evil and unbelief, he is certainly an infidel."
- ↑ Lahw-ul-Mahfúz, occurs only once in the Qurán, namely, Sura lxxxv. 22, where it relates to the Qurán being written thereon. The Preserved Tablet on which the actions of men are written, is called Imám-ul-Mubín, the clear prototype, Sura xxxvi. 11.