Curriculum
Login

Curriculum

Religious Education

Grade 12 (Third Secondary) — Term 1

0/18
Text lesson

Lesson 1: Belief in Divine Decree, Building the Earth and Righteous Work

Religious Education

Lesson 1: Belief in Divine Decree, Building the Earth and Righteous Work

Overview

Overview

  • Define Qada and Qadar and locate belief in them among the pillars of faith.
  • Explain why belief in Qadar never means passivity, and how taking means (asbaab) combines with trust in God.
  • Apply the ideas of vicegerency (istikhlaf) and building the earth to work, science, environment and social responsibility.
  • Balance this life and the hereafter and state the fruits of believing in Qadar and doing righteous work.
Belief in Qadar, Building the Earth and Righteous Work
├── First: the meaning of Qada and Qadar (definition, evidence, effect)
├── Second: belief in Qadar does not mean surrender
├── Third: taking the means and true reliance (tawakkul)
├── Fourth: man is placed as vicegerent to build the earth
├── Fifth: righteous work
├── Sixth: moderation between this life and the hereafter
└── Seventh: the fruits of belief and righteous work
Lesson 1: Belief in Divine Decree, Building the Earth and Righteous Work · 1 / 10
First: the meaning of Qada and Qadar

First: the meaning of Qada and Qadar

Definition

Comparison aspectMain ideaKeywords
QadaGod’s eternal decree concerning thingseternaldecreeconcerningthings
Qadar
  • the bringing into being of that decree at its appointed time
  • in accordance with God’s knowledge and wisdom
bringingbeingdecreeappointed
•
  • Believing in both is a pillar of faith
  • it gives the Muslim serenity and high ambition rather than weakness
Believingbothpillarfaith
  • “Indeed, all things We created with Qadar (predestination)” — al-Qamar 49.
  • “Say Nothing will ever befall us except what God has ordained for us” — at-Tawba 51.
  • Contentment and peace of mind in adversity, and no despair.
  • Gratitude in prosperity, and no arrogance.
  • Courage and steadiness, since lifespan and provision are in God’s hands.
Lesson 1: Belief in Divine Decree, Building the Earth and Righteous Work · 2 / 10
Second: belief in Qadar does not mean surrender

Second: belief in Qadar does not mean surrender

  • The Muslim is commanded to work and strive, then to refer the outcome to God’s will after making the effort.
  • Belief in Qadar never justifies laziness or abandoning duties.
  • God gave man reason, will and choice, and it is on that basis that he is held accountable.
  • What is beyond a person’s power is accepted with trust in God; what is within his power is pursued with effort.
Lesson 1: Belief in Divine Decree, Building the Earth and Righteous Work · 3 / 10
Third: taking the means and tawakkul

Third: taking the means and tawakkul

The meaning of tawakkul

Tawakkul→is relying on God while taking every available means; true tawakkul is joined to action and never separates from it.
  • At the battle of Uhud the Prophet ﷺ appeared wearing two coats of armour and put on the dress of war, and his companions fought with him — he took both the material and the moral means of victory while trusting in God.
  • He began his call secretly and sought protection in the seasonal fairs saying “Who will shelter me? Who will support me?” — again, taking the means.
  • It is not correct for a caller to God to think that God will grant him victory without means merely because he is calling to God.
  • Umar ibn al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him) said to those who gave up work claiming tawakkul: “Let none of you sit out of seeking provision while saying ‘O God, provide for me’, for you know that the sky does not rain gold or silver.”
  • The Prophet ﷺ said to a man who asked whether to leave his she-untethered: “Tie her and trust (in God)” — ‘uqilha wa tawakkal.
Lesson 1: Belief in Divine Decree, Building the Earth and Righteous Work · 4 / 10
Fourth: man is vicegerent, charged with building the earth

Fourth: man is vicegerent, charged with building the earth

Purpose of creation

  • God created jinn and mankind for a noble purpose — worshipping Him: “I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me” — adh-Dhariyat 56.
  • For the purpose to be complete, God placed man as a vicegerent on earth and entrusted it with its cultivation.
  • “And when your Lord said to the angels I am placing on earth a vicegerent” — al-Baqara 30.
  • God distinguished man with the qualifications — reason, knowledge and will — to bear the responsibility of that vicegerency.
  • God sent messengers to guide him to the straight path and to build the earth in a way that accords with divine wisdom.
  • “He has brought you into existence from the earth and asked you to thrive in it” — Hud 61.
  • Cultivation includes work and production, science and research, protecting the resources of the earth, and spreading justice and good.
  • In Islam reason is a means to reflect on the universe for the good of humanity and the building of the earth; Islam does not contradict established scientific facts.
Lesson 1: Belief in Divine Decree, Building the Earth and Righteous Work · 5 / 10
Fifth: righteous work

Fifth: righteous work

Its meaning

  • Righteous work is every beneficial deed done sincerely for God and in a way that agrees with His law.
  • It includes acts of worship, professional work, kindness to people, and repairing the environment and society.
  • “And say Work, so God will see your deeds, and so will His Messenger and the believers” — at-Tawba 105.
  • “The strong believer is better and more beloved to God than the weak believer, while in both there is good.”
  • “If the Hour begins while one of you has a seedling in his hand, let him plant it if he can before it comes.” — the urgency of productive work.
Lesson 1: Belief in Divine Decree, Building the Earth and Righteous Work · 6 / 10
Sixth: moderation between this life and the hereafter

Sixth: moderation between this life and the hereafter

  • “But seek, among what God has given you, the home of the hereafter, and do not forget your portion of this world” — al-Qasas 77.
  • “He is not the best of you who abandons his world for his hereafter, nor his hereafter for his world, until he takes both; for this world is the road to the hereafter.” — Prophet ﷺ
  • Ali ibn Abi Talib (may God be pleased with him) “Work for your world as though you will live forever, and work for your hereafter as though you will die tomorrow.”
  • Preferring this life over the hereafter deprives the community of God’s help and support, as learnt from the battle of Uhud.
  • Obedience to God and His Messenger is the path of salvation in both; disobeying the Prophet’s command is the cause of loss.
Lesson 1: Belief in Divine Decree, Building the Earth and Righteous Work · 7 / 10
Seventh: fruits of believing in Qadar and doing righteous work

Seventh: fruits of believing in Qadar and doing righteous work

  • Serenity, peace of mind and strength of will.
  • Seriousness in work and excellence in it, and rejection of passivity.
  • Patience in trial and gratitude in blessing.
  • Building a productive, mutually supportive community that cultivates and protects the earth.
  • Middle course and moderation, avoiding extremism in religion or in worldly life.
Lesson 1: Belief in Divine Decree, Building the Earth and Righteous Work · 8 / 10
Lesson summary

Lesson summary

  • Qada and Qadar are a pillar of faith and do not contradict taking the means.
  • Tawakkul is effort and striving together with the heart’s reliance on God.
  • Man is a vicegerent on earth, to worship God and build it.
  • Righteous work is a core value; its fruit returns to the individual and to society.
Lesson 1: Belief in Divine Decree, Building the Earth and Righteous Work · 9 / 10
Exam traps and key takeaways

Exam traps and key takeaways

💡 High-yield traps

  • Do not define Qada and Qadar as the same thing Qada is the eternal decree, Qadar is its execution at the appointed measure.
  • “Give up work and trust in God” is a false reading of tawakkul — the correct pairing is “tie her and trust”.
  • Accountability rests on the reason, will and choice God gave man; that is why belief in Qadar does not cancel effort.
  • Worship in the verse of adh-Dhariyat is broad, not ritual only; vicegerency is its worldly expression.
  • The Uhud lesson is about taking means and obeying the command, not about fatalism.
  • Islam and scientific truth do not conflict — a frequent “give a reason” item.
Lesson 1: Belief in Divine Decree, Building the Earth and Righteous Work · 10 / 10