Are Good & Evil in the Hands of Allah?
Question:
‘Good and Evil are in the hands of Allah’ – Is this statement correct?
Answer:
In terms of his decree, (yes) there is no doubt that good and evil are decreed by Allah because there is not a single thing that occurs except by the decree of Allah.
In terms of his actions, No (good and evil are not in his hands). Allah created everything and decreed everything, so there is not a single matter from the matters that have been decreed that occurs except by the decree of Allah.
There is no doubt that everything that occurs has been decreed previously.
{ وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍ فَعَلُوهُ فِى ٱلزُّبُر }
And everything they did is in written records.
[Al-Qamar 54:52]
{ وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٍ وَكَبِيرٍ مُّسْتَطَرٌ }
And every small and great [thing] is inscribed.
[Al-Qamar 54:53]
(Meaning) everything has been inscribed; from the good and evil.
{ يَوْمَئِذٍ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا }
That Day, it will report its news.
[Az-Zalzalah 99:4]
{ بِأَنَّ رَبَّكَ أَوْحَىٰ لَهَا }
Because your Lord has commanded it.
[Az-Zalzalah 99:5]
It’s news that occurred within it (i.e. within the world) consists of good and bad. It will therefore report this; including the actions of the creation and the actions of the people. Everything that occurs is by the decree of Allah and nothing can occur except by his decree.
{ إِنَّا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَٰهُ بِقَدَر }
Indeed, all things We created with a decree.
[Al-Qamar 54:49]
(Allah states) ‘Indeed, all things’ this wording encompasses everything without exception. We believe with certainty that Allah has complete knowledge in detail about what occurs (prior to its occurrence), therefore it is he who has decreed for it to occur.
He intends for good to occur generally within the universe. He also intends for good to occur (specifically) through the laws of his religion and unspecifically by what generally occurs within the universe.
He has decreed for evil to occur within the universe but does not intend for it to occur through the laws of his religion. Thus, the evil that occurs is by the actions of the people and the decree of Allah.
We do not say Allah is only the creator of good and the slave is the sole determiner of his bad actions. This is haraam.
Answered by: Shaykh Abu Bilaal Al Hadhramy – may Allah preserve him
Source: https://t.me/abubilalhami/2693
Answered on: 20, Safar 1441 (18th October 2019)
Translated by: Abu Sufian Saami ibn Daniel Al-Ghaanii