Be careful before you accidently end up ascribing evil to Alla | Ilm4all

Be careful before you accidently end up ascribing evil to Allaah سبحانه وتعالى.

When Ibraaheem عليه السلام had a discussion with his father, he said to him:

فَإِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِّي إِلَّا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٧٧﴾ الَّذِي خَلَقَنِي فَهُوَ يَهْدِينِ ﴿٧٨﴾ وَالَّذِي هُوَ يُطْعِمُنِي وَيَسْقِينِ ﴿٧٩﴾ وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ ﴿٨٠﴾ وَالَّذِي يُمِيتُنِي ثُمَّ يُحْيِينِ ﴿٨١﴾ وَالَّذِي أَطْمَعُ أَن يَغْفِرَ لِي خَطِيئَتِي يَوْمَ الدِّينِ ﴿٨٢﴾

{"Verily! They (the things which you worship besides Allaah) are enemies to me, save the Lord of the worlds;

The One who has created me, and it is He Who guides me;

and it is He Who feeds me and gives me to drink;

and when I am ill, it is He who cures me;

and Who will cause me to die, and then will bring me to life (again);

and Who, I hope will forgive me my faults on the Day of Recompense, (the Day of Resurrection)}

[Surah al-Shuaraa (26): 77-82]

Look how Ibraaheem عليه السلام beautifully described Allaah, and ascribed all the good things to Him, but when he mentioned sickness, he did not ascribe it to Allaah, but said: “when I am ill, it is Allaah who cures me.”



Allaah عز وجل decrees that which is good and that which is evil.

As for His decreeing that which is good, it is that which is certainly and absolutely good in itself – the decree and decision of it, and in that which results from it.

Remember: The decree of Allaah that which is good, it is that which is certainly and absolutely good in itself – the decree and decision of it, and in that which results from it.

An example of good decree: Allaah تعالى decrees to provide mankind with sustenance, safety and security, tranquility, knowledge, guidance, support, etc. These are all good in their decree and in their outcome.



As for decreeing that which is evil, it is actually good in its decree (Allaah makes decisions only based on the highest level of wisdom) even though it may result in evil.

The decreeing with evil, it is good in its decree, but the outcome of it is evil.

The hardship and the afflictions that we face, these are all because of our sins, as Allaah تعالى said:

ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

{Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by (as a result of) what the hands of people have earned so that He may let them taste part of what they have done THAT PERHAPS THEY MAY RETURN (IN REPENTANCE).}
[Surah al-Room (30): 41]

In this case, the decree is for the utmost good and the most praiseworthy reason – THE PEOPLE RETURNING TO ALLAAH عز وجل, returning from sinning against Him to His obedience. So the result may be evil, yet the initial decree and decision is good.

[Based on the explanation by Shaikh Ibn al-Uthaymeen رحمه الله]