‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported God’s messenger as saying, “The first thing God created was the pen. He told it to write and when it asked Him what it should write He told it to write what was decreed, so it wrote what had taken place and what would take place to all eternity.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying that this is a tradition whose isnad is gharib.
The Primacy of the Pen in Creation
This noble hadith from the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) establishes the foundational Islamic doctrine of divine decree (al-qadr). The Pen (al-Qalam) being the first creation signifies the primacy of knowledge in the cosmic order, demonstrating that all existence unfolds according to God's eternal wisdom and predetermined plan.
The Dialogue of Divine Command
The exchange between the Creator and the Pen reveals profound theological truths. When God commands "Write!" and the Pen responds "What shall I write?", we witness the honor bestowed upon creation to participate in divine wisdom. This demonstrates that God's decree is not arbitrary but follows perfect knowledge.
The Pen's question reflects the Islamic principle that God educates His creation through dialogue and grants them honor through participation in His divine plan, while maintaining absolute sovereignty over all affairs.
The Scope of Divine Decree
The phrase "what had taken place and what would take place to all eternity" encompasses the complete knowledge of God regarding past, present, and future. This establishes the comprehensive nature of divine foreknowledge while preserving human responsibility within the framework of God's eternal wisdom.
Scholars emphasize that this writing occurred before the creation of the heavens and earth, in the "Preserved Tablet" (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz), affirming that nothing occurs outside God's knowledge and permission.
Practical Implications for Faith
This tradition strengthens the believer's trust in God's wisdom during times of hardship and prosperity alike. Knowing that all matters are preordained brings spiritual tranquility and prevents both excessive despair in difficulty and arrogant pride in success.
The hadith balances divine decree with human responsibility - while everything is written, humans are still commanded to strive and make choices, trusting that their efforts are part of the divine plan unfolding through God's perfect wisdom.