Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), the truthful and truly-inspired, said, "Each one of you collected in the womb of his mother for forty days, and then turns into a clot for an equal period (of forty days) and turns into a piece of flesh for a similar period (of forty days) and then Allah sends an angel and orders him to write four things, i.e., his provision, his age, and whether he will be of the wretched or the blessed (in the Hereafter). Then the soul is breathed into him. And by Allah, a person among you (or a man) may do deeds of the people of the Fire till there is only a cubit or an arm-breadth distance between him and the Fire, but then that writing (which Allah has ordered the angel to write) precedes, and he does the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters it; and a man may do the deeds of the people of Paradise till there is only a cubit or two between him and Paradise, and then that writing precedes and he does the deeds of the people of the Fire and enters it."
Divine Will (Al-Qadar)
Sahih al-Bukhari 6594
Hadith Text
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), the truthful and truly-inspired, said, "Each one of you collected in the womb of his mother for forty days, and then turns into a clot for an equal period (of forty days) and turns into a piece of flesh for a similar period (of forty days) and then Allah sends an angel and orders him to write four things, i.e., his provision, his age, and whether he will be of the wretched or the blessed (in the Hereafter). Then the soul is breathed into him. And by Allah, a person among you (or a man) may do deeds of the people of the Fire till there is only a cubit or an arm-breadth distance between him and the Fire, but then that writing (which Allah has ordered the angel to write) precedes, and he does the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters it; and a man may do the deeds of the people of Paradise till there is only a cubit or two between him and Paradise, and then that writing precedes and he does the deeds of the people of the Fire and enters it."
Commentary on Human Development
The Prophet (ﷺ) describes three forty-day stages of embryonic development: nutfah (sperm drop), alaqah (clot), and mudghah (chewed flesh). This demonstrates Allah's perfect wisdom in creation and the gradual formation of human beings, affirming both divine power and the sanctity of human life from its earliest stages.
The Writing of Divine Decree
At 120 days, Allah sends an angel to record four matters: provision (rizq), lifespan (ajal), deeds (amal), and whether one will be among the wretched or blessed. This occurs before the soul is breathed into the fetus, demonstrating that Allah's knowledge encompasses all matters before they occur. The recording doesn't compel humans to specific actions but reflects Allah's eternal knowledge.
Apparent Contradiction Resolved
The final portion addresses the apparent tension between divine decree and human responsibility. A person's ultimate destiny aligns with what was recorded, even if their apparent actions suggest otherwise. This demonstrates that final outcomes are determined by what Allah has decreed, which encompasses both the means and the ends. The one destined for Paradise will ultimately perform righteous deeds leading thereto, and vice versa.
Scholarly Insights
This hadith establishes the Sunni doctrine of divine decree (qadar) while maintaining human accountability. We are responsible for our choices, yet Allah's knowledge and decree encompass all matters. The recording doesn't negate free will but reflects Allah's perfect foreknowledge. The ultimate manifestation of one's destiny occurs through their voluntary actions, which are themselves part of the divine decree.