Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) the true and truly inspired, narrated to us, "The creation of everyone of you starts with the process of collecting the material for his body within forty days and forty nights in the womb of his mother. Then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period (40 days) and then he becomes like a piece of flesh for a similar period. Then an angel is sent to him (by Allah) and the angel is allowed (ordered) to write four things; his livelihood, his (date of) death, his deeds, and whether he will be a wretched one or a blessed one (in the Hereafter) and then the soul is breathed into him. So one of you may do (good) deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise so much that there is nothing except a cubit between him and Paradise but then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of Hell (Fire) and (ultimately) enters Hell (Fire); and one of you may do (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of Hell (Fire) so much so that there is nothing except a cubit between him and Hell (Fire), then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (good) deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise and ultimately) enters Paradise." (See Hadith No. 430, Vol. 4)
Oneness, Uniqueness of Allah (Tawheed)
Sahih al-Bukhari 7454
The Stages of Human Creation
The Prophet (ﷺ) delineates four stages of embryonic development: forty days as nutfah (semen), forty as 'alaqah (clot), forty as mudghah (chewed flesh). This demonstrates Allah's perfect power in gradual creation.
The Divine Decree (Al-Qadr)
The angel's inscription of four matters - provision, lifespan, deeds, and ultimate destiny - affirms the completeness of Allah's preordainment. This establishes that nothing occurs outside Divine Knowledge and Will.
The Final Acts Determine Outcome
A person may perform righteous deeds throughout life yet die upon misguidance, or live in disobedience but conclude with repentance. This illustrates that destiny manifests through means, and the seal of one's deeds determines their abode.
Harmony Between Divine Decree and Human Choice
This hadith reconciles qadr with human responsibility. While Allah's decree is ultimate, humans are accountable for their chosen path. The angel records what Allah already knows will occur through the person's voluntary actions.