❖FROM MONOTHEISM TO POLYTHEISM : What Happened? ❖

 

۞  The First Idols: How Polytheistic Worship Emerged  ۞ 

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Allaah (ﷻ) created mankind and the jinn to worship Him alone, and He provided for them everything they need to fulfil this purpose.

Allaah, the Exalted, said:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ۝ مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍۢ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ ۝ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلْقُوَّةِ ٱلْمَتِينُ

“And I have not created jinn and mankind except to worship Me. I seek no provision from them, nor do I need them to feed Me. Indeed, Allaah is the Provider, the Possessor of strength, the Firm.”

[Adh-Dhaariyaat 51:56-58]

Tawheed is firmly rooted in the natural disposition (fitrah) of mankind, while Shirk is something that enters into and corrupts that natural disposition.

Allaah (ﷻ) says:

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًۭا ۚ فِطْرَتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى فَطَرَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

“So direct your face towards the religion, inclining to truth—the Fitrah (natural disposition) of Allaah upon which He has created mankind. There is no changing the creation of Allaah. That is the straight religion, but most people do not know.”

[Ar-Rum 30:30] 

And the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ

كُلُّ مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ، فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ أَوْ يُنَصِّرَانِهِ أَوْ يُمَجِّسَانِهِ

“Every child is born upon the  Fitrah (natural disposition), then his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Magian.”

[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1385; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2658] 

Therefore, Tawheed is the original state of mankind. Mankind was initially upon Tawheed, but Shaytaan gradually led people away from it until Shirk appeared.

Polytheism and corruption in Aqeedah first became widespread among the people of Nūḥ (عليه السلام), and Nūḥ (عليه السلام) was the first Messenger sent to mankind.

Allaah (ﷻ) says:

وَقَالُوا۟ لَا تَذَرُنَّ ءَالِهَتَكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّۭا وَلَا سُوَاعًۭا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسْرًۭا

“And they said: Never leave your gods, and never leave Wadd, nor Suwaa‘, nor Yaghooth, nor Ya‘ooq, nor Nasr.”

[Nūḥ 71:23]

Ibn ‘Abbaas (رضي الله عنهما) explained that these were the names of righteous men from the people of Nūḥ. When they died, Shaytaan inspired their people to make statues in the places where they used to gather and name them after them. The people did so, but the statues were not worshipped at first. When that generation died and knowledge was forgotten, the statues were eventually worshipped.

[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4920] 

This shows how Shirk develops gradually. It may begin with something that appears to be a good intention—remembering righteous people—but eventually leads people away from the worship of Allaah alone.

Although many people throughout history committed Shirk in worship, most of them still acknowledged that Allaah is the Creator, Provider and Controller of the universe. Their main error was directing acts of worship to others besides Him.

Allaah (ﷻ) says:

وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ

“And if you ask them who created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon, they will surely say: Allaah.”

[Al-‘Ankabūt 29:61]

Thus, merely believing that Allaah exists and that He is the Creator is not sufficient. A person must also worship Allaah alone, without directing any act of worship to another.

May Allaah (ﷻ) keep us firm upon Tawheed, protect us from every form of Shirk, and guide us and our families to the Straight Path.

*آمِيْن*

FROM DUST TO LIFE AGAIN : The Qur’ān’s Evidence for Resurrection

 

Resurrection in the Qur’ān: A Journey from Death to Eternal Life

 

The Qur'an has encouraged man in many verses to ponder over the nature of their creation. He who created them out of nothing is indeed able to bring them back to life once again. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says:

 وَيَقُولُ الْإِنسَانُ أَإِذَا مَا مِتُّ لَسَوْفَ أُخْرَجُ حَيًّا (66) أَوَلَا يَذْكُرُ الْإِنسَانُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ يَكُ شَيْئًا (67)

(And (the disbelieving) man says: ‘When I am dead, shall I then be raised up alive? * Does not man remember that We created him before, while he was nothing?) 

[19:66-67]

Allah encourages man to ponder over how He produces fresh vegetation from land which was once dead. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says:

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنَّكَ تَرَى الْأَرْضَ خَاشِعَةً فَإِذَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ اهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِي أَحْيَاهَا لَمُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (39)

(And among His Signs (in this), is that you see the earth barren; but when We send down water [rain] to it, it is stirred to life and growth (of vegetation). Verily He Who

gives it life, surely, (He) is Able to give life to the dead (on the Day of Resurrection). Indeed, He is Able to do all things.) 

[41:39]

Allah encourages man to ponder over they wake up from their sleep, which is similar to life after death. This is the reason why it is called the ‘lesser’ form of death. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says:

 

 اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَالَّتِي لَمْ تَمُتْ فِي مَنَامِهَا ۖ فَيُمْسِكُ الَّتِي قَضَىٰ عَلَيْهَا الْمَوْتَ وَيُرْسِلُ الْأُخْرَىٰ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ (42) 

(It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed. Verily, in this are signs for a people who think deeply.) 

[39:42]

Al-‘Aas bin Waa`il came to the Messenger of Allah (r) with a crumbling bone, and crushed it, and then said:

‘O Muhammad! Will Allah raise this after it has become dust?” He replied, “Indeed Allah will raise this! He will cause you to die, then He will bring you back to life and then He will put you in the Hellfire.”

He (the narrator) said, “Then the following verses were revealed:

 أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الْإِنسَانُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌ مُّبِينٌ (77) وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلًا وَنَسِيَ خَلْقَهُ ۖ قَالَ مَن يُحْيِي الْعِظَامَ وَهِيَ رَمِيمٌ (78) قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا الَّذِي أَنشَأَهَا أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلْقٍ عَلِيمٌ (79) الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ الشَّجَرِ الْأَخْضَرِ نَارًا فَإِذَا أَنتُم مِّنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ (80) أَوَلَيْسَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَىٰ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُم ۚ بَلَىٰ وَهُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ (81) إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ (82) فَسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ (83)

(Does not man see that We have created him from Nutfah [mixed male and female discharge semen drops]. Yet behold! He (stands forth) as an open opponent. 

* And he puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation. He says: ‘Who will give life to these bones when they have rotted away and became dust?’ * Say: (Muhammad (ﷺ)) ‘He will give life to them Who created them for the first time! And He is the All-Knower of every creation! 

* He Who produces for you fire out of the green tree, when behold! You kindle therewith. * Is not He, Who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the like of them? Yes, indeed! He is the All-Knowing Supreme Creator. 

* Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is! * So Glorified is He and Exalted above all that they associate with Him, and in Whose Hands is the dominion of all things, and to Him you shall be returned.) 

[36:77-83]

**ANGELS MENTIONED IN THE QURAN **

 

 

 

 

 Angels Mentioned in the Qur’an: Names, Roles & Duties

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 ** 1. Jibril (جِبْرِيل) – The Angel of Revelation**

 

- **Surah Al-Baqarah (2:97-98)**

 

قُلْ مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّجِبْرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

 

*"Say, 'Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel – it is [none but] he who has brought the Qur'an down upon your heart, [O Muhammad], by permission of Allah, confirming that which was before it and as guidance and good tidings for the believers.'"*

 

 

- **Surah At-Tahrim (66:4)**

 

إِن تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا ۖ وَإِن تَظَاهَرَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلَاهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَالِحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ ظَهِيرٌ

 

 

 

*"If you two [wives] repent to Allah, [it is best], for your hearts have deviated. But if you cooperate against him [the Prophet] – then indeed Allah is his Protector, and Gabriel and the righteous of the believers and the angels, moreover, are [his] assistants."*

 

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 ** 2. Mikail (مِيكَال) – The Angel of Provision**

 

- **Surah Al-Baqarah (2:98)**

 

مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّلَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَجِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَالَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَدُوٌّ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ

 

*"Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and His messengers and Gabriel and Michael – then indeed, Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers."*

 

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** 3. Israfil (إِسْرَافِيل) – The Angel of the Trumpet (Resurrection)**

 

 

*(Note: Israfil is not mentioned by name in the Quran but is referenced in Hadith. However, the "Trumpet Blower" is mentioned in the Quran.)*

 

 

- **Surah Az-Zumar (39:68)**

 

وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَصَعِقَ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا مَن شَاءَ اللَّهُ ۖ ثُمَّ نُفِخَ فِيهِ أُخْرَىٰ فَإِذَا هُمْ قِيَامٌ يَنظُرُونَ

 

*"And the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead except whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once they will be standing, looking on."*

 

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** 4. Malik (مَالِك) – The Guardian of Hellfire**

 

- **Surah Az-Zukhruf (43:77)**

 

وَنَادَوْا يَا مَالِكُ لِيَقْضِ عَلَيْنَا رَبُّكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّكُم مَّاكِثُونَ

 

*"And they will call, 'O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us!' He will say, 'Indeed, you will remain.'"*

 

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 ** 5. Munkar and Nakir (مُنْكَرٌ وَنَكِيرٌ) – The Angels of the Grave**

 

 

*(Note: These angels are not mentioned by name in the Quran but are referenced in Hadith. The questioning in the grave is implied in the Quran.)*

 

 

 

- **Surah Ibrahim (14:27)** (Implied)

 

يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَيُضِلُّ اللَّهُ الظَّالِمِينَ ۚ وَيَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ

 

*"Allah keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word, in worldly life and in the Hereafter. And Allah sends astray the wrongdoers. And Allah does what He wills."*

 

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 ** 6. Harut and Marut (هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ) – The Angels of Babylon**

 

 

- **Surah Al-Baqarah (2:102)**

 

وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ ۖ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَٰكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ ۚ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ ۖ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ ۚ وَمَا هُم بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ ۚ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ ۚ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا بِهِ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ

 

 

*" They ˹instead˺ followed the magic promoted by the devils during the reign of Solomon. Never did Solomon disbelieve, rather the devils disbelieved. They taught magic to the people, along with what had been revealed to the two angels, Hârût and Mârût, in Babylon. The two angels never taught anyone without saying, “We are only a test ˹for you˺, so do not abandon ˹your˺ faith.” Yet people learned ˹magic˺ that caused a rift ˹even˺ between husband and wife; although their magic could not harm anyone except by Allah’s Will. They learned what harmed them and did not benefit them—although they already knew that whoever buys into magic would have no share in the Hereafter. Miserable indeed was the price for which they sold their souls, if only they knew"*

 

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** 7. The Bearers of the Throne (حَمَلَةُ الْعَرْشِ)**

 

- **Surah Al-Haqqah (69:17)**

 

وَالْمَلَكُ عَلَىٰ أَرْجَائِهَا ۚ وَيَحْمِلُ عَرْشَ رَبِّكَ فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ ثَمَانِيَةٌ

 

*"And the angels will be on its sides, and there will bear the Throne of your Lord above them, that Day, eight [of them]."*

 

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**8. Kiraman Katibin (كِرَامًا كَاتِبِين) – The Recording Angels**

 

 

 

- **Surah Al-Infitar (82:10-12)**

 

وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَافِظِينَ * كِرَامًا كَاتِبِينَ * يَعْلَمُونَ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ

 

*"And indeed, [appointed] over you are keepers, noble and recording; they know whatever you do."*

 

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 **9. The Angel of Death (مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ)**

 

- **Surah As-Sajdah (32:11)**

 

قُلْ يَتَوَفَّاكُم مَّلَكُ الْمَوْتِ الَّذِي وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ

 

*"Say, 'The angel of death will take you who has been entrusted with you. Then to your Lord you will be returned.'"*

 

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**10. Angels at the Battle of Badr**

 

- **Surah Al-Imran (3:124-125)**

 

إِذْ تَقُولُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَلَن يَكْفِيَكُمْ أَن يُمِدَّكُمْ رَبُّكُم بِثَلَاثَةِ آلَافٍ مِّنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُنزَلِينَ

 

 

*"[Remember] when you said to the believers, 'Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down?'"*

 

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“The Qadariyyah are the Magians of this ummah”

The Qadariyyah Are the Magians of This Ummah

A Discussion of the Hadith and the Explanation of the Scholars

The Hadith

Among the well-known narrations concerning belief in al-Qadar (Divine Decree) is the hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ described the Qadariyyah as the Magians of this Ummah.

It was narrated from ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما، عن النبي ﷺ قال

الْقَدَرِيَّةُ مَجُوسُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ، إِنْ مَرِضُوا فَلَا تَعُودُوهُمْ، وَإِنْ مَاتُوا فَلَا تَشْهَدُوهُمْ

“The Qadariyyah are the Magians of this Ummah. If they become sick, do not visit them, and if they die, do not attend their funerals.”

The Companion who narrated this report is:

ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنهما, the son of the second Caliph, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه.

This narration is reported through the hadith of Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما in a number of works, including:

Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Sunnah, Bāb fī al-Qadar.

Al-Mustadrak ʿalā al-Ṣaḥīḥayn of al-Ḥākim.

Al-Sunan al-Kubrā of al-Bayhaqī.

Al-Muʿjam al-Awsaṭ of al-Ṭabarānī.

Sharḥ al-Sunnah of al-Baghawī.

Tārīkh Dimashq of Ibn ʿAsākir.

Al-Sunnah of Ibn Abī ʿĀṣim.

The report was declared ṣaḥīḥ by Ibn al-Qaṭṭān.

 

Al-Ḥākim stated:

هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ عَلَى شَرْطِ الشَّيْخَيْنِ، إِنْ صَحَّ سَمَاعُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ مِنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ

Al-Mustadrak of al-Ḥākim, no. 286.

i.e. he considered it authentic subject to confirmation of Abū Ḥāzim's hearing from Ibn ʿUmar . 

Al-Saffārīnī رحمه الله likewise stated that the hadith is at least ḥasan.

The numbering of the hadith can differ between editions of Sunan Abī Dāwūd, so it is preferable when citing it to mention the book and chapter in addition to the number.

Who Were the Qadariyyah?

The term Qadariyyah was used by the early scholars for those who denied aspects of Allah's decree, particularly those who rejected that Allah سبحانه وتعالى has created and decreed the actions of His servants.

The fundamental error of the early Qadariyyah was their denial of Allah's encompassing decree and their claim that human beings independently bring their own actions into existence.

This is why the Prophet ﷺ compared them to the Magians (Majūs).

The comparison does not mean that the Qadariyyah were literally Magians. Rather, it refers to a similarity in their underlying belief concerning the origin of good and evil.

Why Were They Called “The Magians of This Ummah”?

The great scholar Imām al-Bayhaqī رحمه الله explained the reason for this description.

He wrote:

وَإِنَّمَا سُمُّوا قَدَرِيَّةً لِأَنَّهُمْ أَثْبَتُوا الْقَدَرَ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ، وَنَفَوْهُ عَنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، فَزَعَمُوا أَنَّهُمْ يُحْدِثُونَ أَفْعَالَهُمْ دُونَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، فَأَشْبَهُوا الْمَجُوسَ فِي إِثْبَاتِهِمْ أَصْلَيْنِ: النُّورِ وَالظُّلْمَةِ، وَزَعْمِهِمْ أَنَّ الْخَيْرَ مِنْ فِعْلِ النُّورِ وَالشَّرَّ مِنْ فِعْلِ الظُّلْمَةِ

They were called Qadariyyah because they affirmed power/decree for themselves while denying it for Allah, Mighty and Majestic. They claimed that they independently originated their actions apart from Allah. Thus they resembled the Magians in affirming two fundamental principles, light and darkness, and in their claim that good comes from the action of light and evil from the action of darkness.

Reference: al-Bayhaqī, al-Iʿtiqād, p. 245.

The point of comparison is therefore the attribution of creation and causation to something other than Allah سبحانه وتعالى.

The Magians attributed good and evil to two opposing principles, while the early Qadariyyah attempted to remove human actions from Allah's creative decree and make the servant independently responsible for bringing those actions into existence.

The Explanation of al-Khaṭṭābī رحمه الله

Imām al-Khaṭṭābī رحمه الله also explained the reason for this comparison.

He said:

إِنَّمَا شَبَّهَهُمْ بِالْمَجُوسِ لِمُضَاهَاةِ مَذْهَبِهِمْ مَذْهَبَ الْمَجُوسِ، فَإِنَّ الْمَجُوسَ يَقُولُونَ بِأَصْلَيْنِ: النُّورِ وَالظُّلْمَةِ، وَيَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ الْخَيْرَ مِنْ فِعْلِ النُّورِ وَالشَّرَّ مِنْ فِعْلِ الظُّلْمَةِ، فَكَانُوا ثَنَوِيَّةً، وَكَذَلِكَ الْقَدَرِيَّةُ أَضَافُوا الْخَيْرَ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَأَضَافُوا الشَّرَّ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ، وَاللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ خَالِقُ الْخَيْرِ وَالشَّرِّ، لَا يَكُونُ مِنْهُمَا شَيْءٌ إِلَّا بِمَشِيئَتِهِ

The Prophet ﷺ compared them to the Magians because their doctrine resembled the doctrine of the Magians. The Magians believed in two fundamental principles: light and darkness. They claimed that good resulted from light and evil from darkness, thereby becoming dualists. Likewise, the Qadariyyah attributed good to Allah, Most High, while attributing evil to someone other than Him. Yet Allah سبحانه وتعالى is the Creator of both good and evil, and neither of them occurs except by His will.

Reference: al-Khaṭṭābī, as quoted in the discussions of this hadith and its meaning.

Allah Is the Creator of Everything

The correct belief of Ahl al-Sunnah is that Allah سبحانه وتعالى is the Creator of everything.

Allah says:

اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ

“Allah is the Creator of all things.”

Qur'an 39:62

Allah سبحانه وتعالى also says:

وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

“While Allah created you and what you do.”

Qur'an 37:96

The servant nevertheless possesses a real will and ability and is genuinely responsible for his choices and actions. His will and ability, however, do not operate independently of Allah's will and decree.

Allah says:

لِمَنْ شَاءَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَسْتَقِيمَ ۝ وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ

“For whoever among you wills to take a straight path. And you do not will unless Allah wills, Lord of the worlds.”

Qur'an 81:28–29

Thus, Ahl al-Sunnah affirm both realities:

Allah سبحانه وتعالى is the Creator of the servant and his actions.

The servant truly chooses, wills and performs his actions and is therefore rewarded or punished according to them.

There is no contradiction between these two principles.

Other Narrations Concerning the Qadariyyah

The statement concerning the Qadariyyah being the “Magians of this Ummah” was not transmitted through only one route.

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله mentioned that similar reports concerning this meaning were narrated from a number of Companions, including:

Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما

Ḥudhayfah رضي الله عنه

Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما

Jābir ibn ʿAbdillāh رضي الله عنهما

Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه

ʿ

Abdullah ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ رضي الله عنهما

Rāfiʿ ibn Khadīj رضي الله عنه

He discussed these reports in his commentary on the Sunan of Abī Dāwūd.

Reference: Ibn al-Qayyim, Tahdhīb Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 2/347.

This strengthens the fact that the warning against the doctrine of the Qadariyyah was well known among the early Muslims.

Regarding the Longer Wording of the Hadith

A longer wording is sometimes circulated online along the lines of:

“For every nation there are Magians, and the Magians of this Ummah are those who deny al-Qadar... They are the supporters of the Dajjāl...”

Care should be taken here.

The wording that is firmly relevant to the narration of Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما is the concise statement:

«الْقَدَرِيَّةُ مَجُوسُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ، إِنْ مَرِضُوا فَلَا تَعُودُوهُمْ، وَإِنْ مَاتُوا فَلَا تَشْهَدُوهُمْ»

“The Qadariyyah are the Magians of this Ummah. If they become sick, do not visit them, and if they die, do not attend their funerals.”

Therefore, when quoting the hadith, it is better not to combine different narrations and then attribute the entire combined wording to one source without checking its chain and exact wording.

This is especially important because hadith numbering and wording can vary between editions and manuscripts.

The Meaning of “Do Not Visit Them or Attend Their Funerals”

The Prophet ﷺ's instruction concerning the Qadariyyah demonstrates the seriousness with which the early Muslims regarded deviation in the fundamental matter of al-Qadar.

The purpose of such warnings is to protect the Muslim from adopting or normalising false beliefs.

At the same time, the hadith should not be used carelessly to make sweeping judgments about every person who is confused about Qadar or who has questions concerning it.

There is an important distinction between:

someone who unknowingly falls into an incorrect idea,

someone who has doubts and is seeking clarification,

and someone who knowingly adopts and propagates a clearly defined theological doctrine after the truth has been established for him.

The detailed application of the rulings mentioned in such texts therefore belongs to qualified scholars and should not become a matter of reckless individual judgment.

The Importance of Belief in Al-Qadar

Belief in al-Qadar is one of the six foundations of īmān.

The famous hadith of Jibrīl عليه السلام records that when the Prophet ﷺ was asked about īmān, he said:

أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ، وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ، وَكُتُبِهِ، وَرُسُلِهِ، وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ، وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ

“It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in al-Qadar, its good and its evil.”

Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Īmān.

Therefore, belief in Allah's decree is not a peripheral theological issue. It is part of the very foundation of Islamic faith.

Conclusion

The hadith:

«الْقَدَرِيَّةُ مَجُوسُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ»

“The Qadariyyah are the Magians of this Ummah”

is a warning against the doctrine of those who deny Allah's decree and attempt to remove human actions from Allah's creation and control.

The comparison with the Magians concerns the similarity in attributing acts or events to an independent source besides Allah. The correct Islamic position is that Allah سبحانه وتعالى alone is the Creator of everything, while His servants genuinely possess will, choice and ability and are accountable for what they choose and do.

For this reason, the Muslim should affirm all aspects of al-Qadar and avoid both extremes: denying Allah's decree on one side, and denying the servant's real choice and responsibility on the other.

May Allah سبحانه وتعالى grant us sound belief, protect us from deviation, and make us firm upon the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah according to the understanding of the Companions رضي الله عنهم.