And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record. (Quran 6:59)
 

Allaho akbar – an important reminder. Do we believe that that Allah doesn’t see all the things that people do towards each other on this earth? Do we believe that someone’s actions escape His control? The fact is that no action escapes Allah’s will and knowledge. All that has happened happens and will happen on earth and in the universe is fixed by Allah. What happens is exactly the way He has written it and what He wills:

 

Abd-Allah Abr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I heard the messenger of Allah (saws) say: ‘Allah wrote down the destiny to all the creation 50 000 years before He created the heaven and the earth.’” (Sahih Muslim, 2653)

One of Islam’s six articles of faith

The belief of The Divine will and knowledge (Al-Qadar) is one of Islam’s six articles of faith. It includes four aspects:

1. That Allah by virtue of his knowledge knows what His creation will do.
2. The fact that Allah has written everyone's fate in al-Lawh al-Mahfooz.
3. That what is happening and what is not happening is Allah's will. There is no movement in heaven or on earth that takes place without His will.
4. The fact that Allah is the Creator of everything, even of our actions.

And your Lord creates whatsoever He wills and chooses: no choices have they (in any matter). (Quran, 28:68)

While we are experiencing to make independent choices, is our will subject to the will of Allah: We follow the way we want, but at the end of the road we find what Allah has destined for us:

And you cannot will unless (it be) that Allah wills - the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists). (Quran, 81:29)

How to deal with this?

Allah keeps our fates hidden from us, and the best we can do is to strive for and adhere to the injunctions and prohibitions, he has clearly done for us. We should seek Allah's help, pray for guidance (istikhaarah) about all of life's affairs, for the good can be found in obedience to Allah (Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah).

So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can; listen and obey… (Quran, 64:16)

Al-Qadr is no excuse to ignore His guidance. We should be pleased with everything that happens, even evil. For Allah knows best and we do not know.

And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirun (the patient). (Quran, 2:155)

… And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know. (Quran, 2:216)

Allah is The Highest, and in no way can He be compared to His creation. He lets things happen in His sovereignty that He dislikes because they are part of a larger whole that we humans cannot comprehend.

No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz) before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah. In order that you may not grieve at the things that you fail to get, nor rejoice over that which has been given to you. And Allah likes not prideful boasters. (Quran, 57:22-23)

Say: "Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Maula (Lord, Helper and Protector)." And in Allah let the believers put their trust. (Quran, 9:51)

 

Why do bad things happen?

If the believer experience difficulties then Allah has decided that it is because of the following reasons:

1. On the basis of sins or omissions.
 

And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. (Quran, 42:30)

And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds… (Quran, 20.82)

 

2. As a test from Allah, to exalt his rank and status, and as an atonement for bad deeds.

The believers will accept Allah's will and decision, and thus seek Allah's reward and the cancellation of sins. The believer’s hearts will be strengthened, and one will feel calmer. If he has sinned, he will give up sins and be better than before. Was he obedient to Allah, he will be more obedient to His Creator and Lord. We must remember that Allah's Prophets (peace be upon them all), those who Allah love most of all in His creation, are those that have been put at the hardest trials, and suffered the most. Why? Not as punishment, it has not happened by chance. Allah has put them on hard trials, because He loves them, because He wants to increase their rank, and lavish them with rewards in the hereafter.

Shaytaans methods

Shaytaan attempts to weaken the believers' hearts by bringing grief into them. 

He works hard to make them helpless; to cause anger, sorrow, pain, curses and regrets. He uses the words "if only ...", in that people dwell on the past and conjures up all that he could have done and not done: "If only such and such happened, then such and such would have happened." But how can we know? Allah tells us that such thinking is hypocritical behavior, and something that the Prophet Mohammed (saws) warned us against.

Patience. Acceptance.

Patience is required, and the belief in the divine will is mandatory. The Prophet (saws) taught us to say the following: "Qadar Allah wa Mon sha'a fa'ala" (Allah decides and does what He will). Nothing can stop Allah's rules in passing. It required of us is to accept what has been decided. It apparently works poorly, are often events that brings no good: Even if we do not want hardship, corruption, disease and other unpleasant events and actions, they are sometimes necessary and with the condition that the good is to come. Sobhaan Allah.

It is good to remember the Quran verse:

Verily, along with every hardship is relief, Verily, along with every hardship is relief (i.e. there is one hardship with two reliefs, so one hardship cannot overcome two reliefs). (Quran 94:5-6)

Allah ‘azza wajaal, forgive me for the faults.

Umm-Aisha, Ramadan/August 2011

Sources:

Quran

http://www.suhaibwebb.com/relationships/withthedivine/throw-the-baby-trusting-in-allah/

khutbas\en.09.04.10.pdf

http://islamqa.com/en/ref/114019

http://islamqa.com/en/ref/13610/decree

http://islamqa.com/en/ref/20806/decree

http://islamqa.com/en/ref/34732/decree