When the drop of (semen) remains in the womb for forty or forty five nights, the angel comes and says: My Lord, will he be good or evil? And both these things would be written. Then the angel says: My Lord, would he be male or female? And both these things are written. And his deeds and actions, his death, his livelihood; these are also recorded. Then his document of destiny is rolled and there is no addition to nor subtraction from it.
The Book of Destiny - Sahih Muslim 2644
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This profound hadith from Sahih Muslim's "Book of Destiny" reveals the divine process of predestination (al-Qadr) that occurs during fetal development, as expounded by classical Islamic scholars.
The Timely Intervention of the Angel
The specified period of forty or forty-five nights marks a crucial stage when the embryo develops sufficiently for the angel's visitation. Scholars like Imam Nawawi explain this timing reflects the completion of the initial formative stages when the fetus becomes receptive to divine decree.
The angel's inquiry demonstrates that Allah's knowledge precedes creation, yet the formal recording occurs at this appointed time, showing the harmony between divine foreknowledge and temporal manifestation.
The Four Essential Decrees
First: The decree of moral disposition - whether the person will be righteous or wicked. Scholars emphasize this doesn't negate free will but reflects Allah's eternal knowledge of how the individual will choose to exercise their moral agency.
Second: The decree of gender - male or female, determined by divine wisdom beyond human comprehension, each with its unique spiritual tests and opportunities.
Third: The recording of deeds - all actions, major and minor, are inscribed in the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz), demonstrating the comprehensiveness of divine knowledge.
Fourth: The determination of lifespan and provision - the exact moment of death and the sustenance allocated to each individual are precisely recorded, affirming complete divine control over these matters.
The Finality of the Divine Record
The sealing of this document signifies the perfection and immutability of Allah's decree. Classical commentators stress that no subsequent event can alter what has been eternally recorded, yet this doesn't contradict the efficacy of sincere supplication (dua), which is itself part of the divine decree.
This comprehensive recording affirms the balance between divine predestination and human responsibility - while Allah knows and decrees all things, humans are accountable for their choices within the framework of this divine knowledge.