An-Nawawi's Forty Hadith (04): The Stages of Human Creation, and the Decree of His Provision, Lifespan, and Deeds explores one of the most profound narrations about human destiny and divine decree. This hadith describes the stages of human formation in the womb, how rizq (provision), lifespan, deeds, and ultimate fate—whether one will be happy or miserable—are determined before birth. It also provides a crucial insight into the concept of Qadar (divine predestination) in Islam. In this article, we will delve into the meaning and lessons of this hadith based on Tuhfatus Saniyah Syarah Arbain Nawawiyah by Sheikh Khalid Mahmud Al-Juhani, uncovering its significance for faith and daily life.
مَرَاحِلُ خَلْقِ الإِنْسَانِ، وَتَقْدِيرُ رِزْقِهِ، وَأَجَلِهِ، وَعَمَلِهِ
مَرَاحِلُ (Stages) | خَلْقِ (of creation) | الإِنْسَانِ (of the human) | وَتَقْدِيرُ (and the decree) | رِزْقِهِ (of his provision) | وَأَجَلِهِ (and his lifespan) | وَعَمَلِهِ (and his deeds)THE STAGES OF HUMAN CREATION, AND THE DECREE OF HIS PROVISION, LIFESPAN, AND DEEDS
عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمٰنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: From Abu Abdur-Rahman, Abdullah, son of Mas‘ud[1]—may Allah be pleased with him—said:حَدَّثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ الصَّادِقُ المَصْدُوقُ:
حَدَّثَنَا (Told us) | رَسُولُ (the Messenger) | اللَّهِ (of Allah) | صَلَّى اللَّهُ (may Allah bless him) | عَلَيْهِ (upon him) | وَسَلَّمَ (and grant him peace) | وَهُوَ (and he is) | الصَّادِقُ (the truthful) | المَصْدُوقُ (the confirmed in truth):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who is the truthful[2] and confirmed in truth,[3] told us:إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ يُجْمَعُ خَلْقُهُ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا نُطْفَةً، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ عَلَقَةً مِثْلَ ذٰلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ مُضْغَةً مِثْلَ ذٰلِكَ
إِنَّ (Indeed) | أَحَدَكُمْ (one of you) | يُجْمَعُ (is gathered) | خَلْقُهُ (his creation) | فِي (in) | بَطْنِ (the womb of) | أُمِّهِ (his mother) | أَرْبَعِينَ (forty) | يَوْمًا (days) | نُطْفَةً (as a drop of fluid) | ثُمَّ (then) | يَكُونُ (he becomes) | عَلَقَةً (a clot) | مِثْلَ (like) | ذٰلِكَ (that) | ثُمَّ (then) | يَكُونُ (he becomes) | مُضْغَةً (a lump of flesh) | مِثْلَ (like) | ذٰلِكَ (that)
Indeed, the creation[4] of one of you is gathered[5] in his mother's womb[6] for forty days as a drop of fluid,[7] then he becomes a clot[8] for a similar period, then he becomes a lump[9] of flesh for a similar period.ثُمَّ يُرْسَلُ إِلَيْهِ المَلَكُ فَيَنْفُخُ فِيهِ الرُّوحَ وَيُؤْمَرُ بِأَرْبَعِ كَلِمَاتٍ: يَكْتُبُ رِزْقَهُ وَعَمَلَهُ وَأَجَلَهُ وَشَقِيٌّ أَوْ سَعِيدٌ.
ثُمَّ (Then) | يُرْسَلُ (is sent) | إِلَيْهِ (to him) | المَلَكُ (the angel) | فَيَنْفُخُ (and he blows) | فِيهِ (into him) | الرُّوحَ (the soul) | وَيُؤْمَرُ (and he is commanded) | بِأَرْبَعِ (with four) | كَلِمَاتٍ (words): | يَكْتُبُ (he writes) | رِزْقَهُ (his provision) | وَعَمَلَهُ (and his deeds) | وَأَجَلَهُ (and his lifespan) | وَشَقِيٌّ (and whether he is miserable) | أَوْ (or) | سَعِيدٌ (happy)
Then an angel[10] is sent to him, and he blows the soul into him, and he is commanded with four words: he writes his provision,[11] his deeds,[12] his lifespan,[13] and whether he will be miserable or happy.[14]فَوَالَّذِي لَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُهُ إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ لَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الجَنَّةِ حَتّٰى مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهَا إِلَّا ذِرَاعٌ، فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الكِتَابُ فَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ فَيَدْخُلُهَا،
فَوَالَّذِي (By the One) | لَا (there is no) | إِلٰهَ (god) | غَيْرُهُ (besides Him) | إِنَّ (indeed) | أَحَدَكُمْ (one of you) | لَيَعْمَلُ (certainly does) | بِعَمَلِ (the deeds of) | أَهْلِ (the people of) | الجَنَّةِ (Paradise) | حَتّٰى (until) | مَا (there is not) | يَكُونُ (between him) | بَيْنَهُ (and it) | وَبَيْنَهَا (except) | إِلَّا (an arm's length) | فَيَسْبِقُ (then overtakes) | عَلَيْهِ (upon him) | الكِتَابُ (the decree) | فَيَعْمَلُ (so he does) | بِعَمَلِ (the deeds of) | أَهْلِ (the people of) | النَّارِ (the Fire) | فَيَدْخُلُهَا (and he enters it).
By the One besides whom there is no god, indeed, one of you may perform the deeds of the people of Paradise[15] until there is only an arm's length between him and it, then the decree overtakes him, so he performs the deeds of the people of the Fire[16] and enters it.وَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ لَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ حَتّٰى مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهَا إِلَّا ذِرَاعٌ، فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الكِتَابُ فَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الجَنَّةِ فَيَدْخُلُهَا
وَإِنَّ (And indeed) | أَحَدَكُمْ (one of you) | لَيَعْمَلُ (certainly does) | بِعَمَلِ (the deeds of) | أَهْلِ (the people of) | النَّارِ (the Fire) | حَتّٰى (until) | مَا (there is not) | يَكُونُ (between him) | بَيْنَهُ (and it) | وَبَيْنَهَا (except) | إِلَّا (an arm's length) | فَيَسْبِقُ (then overtakes) | عَلَيْهِ (upon him) | الكِتَابُ (the decree) | فَيَعْمَلُ (so he does) | بِعَمَلِ (the deeds of) | أَهْلِ (the people of) | الجَنَّةِ (Paradise) | فَيَدْخُلُهَا (and he enters it)
And indeed, one of you may perform the deeds of the people of the Fire until there is only an arm's length between him and it, then the decree overtakes him,[17] so he performs the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters it.رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيُّ وَمُسْلِمٌ
رَوَاهُ (Narrated it) | البُخَارِيُّ (Al-Bukhari) | وَمُسْلِمٌ (and Muslim).
Narrated by Al-Bukhari (3208) and Muslim (2643).LESSON FROM THE HADITH
Lessons that can be taken from hadith 4 of An-Nawawi’s Forty Hadith are below:مَشْرُوعِيَّةُ القَسَمِ عَلَى الخَبَرِ الصَّادِقِ؛ لِتَأْكِيدِهِ فِي نَفْسِ السَّامِعِ
1 – The legitimacy of swearing by truthful news; to confirm it in the listener's mind.
تَقْرِيرُ مَبْدَأِ الإِيمَانِ بِالبَعْثِ
2 – Establishing the principle of belief in resurrection.
تَقْرِيرُ مَبْدَأِ الإِيمَانِ بِالمَلَائِكَةِ
3 – Establishing the principle of belief in angels.
مِنْ وَظَائِفِ المَلَائِكَةِ: المَوْكَلُ بِالنَّفْخِ فِي الرَّحِمِ
4 – Among the duties of angels: the one assigned to blow into the womb.
اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَعْلَمُ مَا سَيَعْمَلُهُ الخَلْقُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَهُمْ
5 – Allah Almighty knows what the creation will do before He creates them.
المَلَائِكَةُ عِبَادُ اللهِ يُؤْمَرُونَ، وَيَنْهَوْنَ
6 – Angels are servants of Allah who are commanded and forbidden.
ذِكْرُ مَرَاحِلِ تَطَوُّرِ الجَنِينِ
7 – Mentioning the stages of fetal development.
التَّحْذِيرُ مِنْ سُوءِ الخَاتِمَةِ
8 – Warning against a bad ending.
التَّحْذِيرُ مِنَ الاغْتِرَارِ بِالعَمَلِ
9 – Warning against being deceived by one's deeds.
يَنْبَغِي لِلْعَبْدِ أَنْ يَطْمَئِنَّ عَلَى رِزْقِهِ؛ لِأَنَّهُ كُتِبَ، وَفُرِغَ مِنْهُ، فَلَنْ يَأْخُذَهُ غَيْرُهُ
10 – It is necessary for the servant to be assured of his sustenance; because it is written, and it has been decreed, so no one else will take it.
يَنْبَغِي لِلْعَبْدِ أَلَّا يَخَافَ؛ لِأَنَّ أَجَلَهُ مَكْتُوبٌ، فَلَنْ يَسْتَطِيعَ أَحَدٌ أَنْ يُنْقِصَهُ شَيْئًا مِنْ عُمُرِهِ
11 – It is necessary for the servant not to fear; because his lifespan is written, and no one can reduce anything from his life.
الْعِبْرَةُ بِالْأَعْمَالِ الْخَوَاتِيمِ
12 – Something is reckoned by its ending.
الْحَدِيثُ فِيهِ رَدٌّ عَلَى الْجَبْرِيَّةِ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ: إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ مَجْبُورٌ عَلَى فِعْلِ نَفْسِهِ
13 – This hadith contains a refutation of the fatalists who say that man is compelled in his actions.
وُجُوبُ الإِيمَانِ بِالقَضَاءِ وَالقَدَرِ؛ لِقَوْلِهِ ﷺ: «وَيُؤْمَرُ بِكَتْبِ أَرْبَعِ كَلِمَاتٍ: بِكَتْبِ رِزْقِهِ...»
14 – The obligation to believe in fate and destiny; due to his ﷺ saying: "and he is commanded with four words: he writes his provision...".أَحْكَامُ الدُّنْيَا تَتَعَلَّقُ بِالأَعْمَالِ الظَّاهِرَةِ، فَلاَ يَجُوزُ شَرْعًا أَنْ يُقَالَ: فُلاَنٌ لاَ يُرِيدُ بِعَمَلِهِ وَجْهَ اللهِ
15 – The rulings of the world are related to apparent actions, so it is not permissible under the Shariah to say, “Someone intended his action because of other than Allah.”ADDITIONAL LESSONS
There are several additional lessons regarding the aforementioned hadith:النَّفْخُ فِي الرُّوحِ يَكُونُ بَعْدَ تَمَامِ أَرْبَعَةِ أَشْهُرٍ يَتَرَتَّبُ عَلَيْهِ عِدَّةُ أُمُورٍ
A – The blowing of the soul occurs after the completion of four months, resulting in several matters:الحُكْمُ الأَوَّلُ: لاَ يَجُوزُ إِسْقَاطُهُ
First ruling: It is not permissible to abort it.الحُكْمُ الثَّانِي: إِنْ سَقَطَ مَيِّتًا وَجَبَ أَنْ يُغَسَّلَ، وَيُكَفَّنَ، وَيُصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ، وَيُدْفَنَ فِي مَقَابِرِ المُسْلِمِينَ
Second ruling: If it falls dead, it must be washed, shrouded, prayed over, and buried in the Muslim cemeteries.الإِيمَانُ بِالقَضَاءِ وَالقَدَرِ لاَ يَتَحَقَّقُ إِلَّا بِالإِيمَانِ بِمَرَاتِبِهِ الأَرْبَعِ، وَهِيَ
B – Faith in divine decree and predestination is not achieved except through belief in its four levels, which are:الرُّتْبَةُ الأُولَى: الإِيمَانُ بِأَنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَعْلَمُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ، لاَ تَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ خَافِيَةٌ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: ﴿عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ﴾
The first level: Belief that Allah, the Almighty, knows everything, and nothing is hidden from Him, as He said: "Knower of the unseen and the witnessed," [QS Al-Hashr: 22].وَقَالَ تَعَالَىٰ: ﴿لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا﴾
And Allah said: "So that you may know that Allah is over all things competent and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge," [QS At-Talaq: 12].**المرتبة الثانية: الإيمان بأنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ كَتَبَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فِي اللَّوْحِ المَحْفُوظِ قَبْلَ خَلْقِ الخَلْقِ بِخَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَىٰ: ﴿وَفِي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ﴾
The second level: Belief that Allah, the Almighty, has written everything in the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfudz) fifty thousand years before the creation of the universe, as He said: "And We have detailed everything in a clear Book," [QS Al-An'am: 38].وَقَالَ تَعَالَىٰ: ﴿وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُبِينٍ﴾
And He said: "And everything We have enumerated in a clear register," [QS Yasin: 12].وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ العَاصِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ: كَتَبَ اللَّهُ مَقَادِيرَ الخَلَائِقِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ بِخَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ
Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As, may Allah be pleased with them, narrated: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say: "Allah wrote the decrees of the creation fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth," (Sahih Muslim: 2653).المرتبة الثالثة: الإِيمَانُ بِأَنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِذَا شَاءَ شَيْئًا قَالَ لَهُ: كُنْ، فَيَكُونُ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَىٰ: ﴿إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ﴾
The third level: Belief that Allah, the Exalted, when He wills something, He says to it: "Be," and it is, as He said: "His command, when He wills something, is only to say to it, 'Be,' and it is," [QS Ya-Sin: 82].المرتبة الرابعة: الإِيمَانُ بِأَنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: ﴿ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَاعْبُدُوهُ﴾
The fourth level: Belief that Allah, the Exalted, is the Creator of all things, as He said, "That is Allah, your Lord. There is no deity except Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him," [QS Al-An'am: 102].وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: ﴿قُلِ اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ﴾
And He said, "Say, 'Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Prevailing,'" [QS Ar-Ra'd: 16]. Wallahua’lamThe fourth hadith of An-Nawawi's Forty Hadith offers profound insights into the stages of human creation, the decree of provision, lifespan, and deeds, as well as the reality of divine predestination (Qadar) in Islam. Understanding this hadith strengthens our faith in Allah’s wisdom and justice, while reminding us to continuously strive in good deeds with sincerity and humility. No one knows their final outcome, so we must seek Allah’s guidance and mercy at all times. May this explanation, based on Tuhfatus Saniyah Syarah Arbain Nawawiyah by Sheikh Khalid Mahmud Al-Juhani, help deepen our comprehension of this fundamental concept in Islam. Stay connected for more hadith insights and reflections!
Sukoharjo, 4 April 2025
Irfan Nugroho (May Allah forgive his sins, accept his good deeds, and grant him all of his duas. Aamiin)EXPLANATION OF THE HADITH
[1] Who is Abdullah ibn Mas’ud? Here’s a brief about him:أَسْلَمَ قَبْلَ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، هَاجَرَ الْهِجْرَتَيْنِ وَشَهِدَ الْمَشَاهِدَ كُلَّهَا، وَشَهِدَ فَتْحَ الشَّامِ
He converted to Islam before Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), migrated twice, witnessed all the events, and witnessed the conquest of Syria.
وَلِيَ الْقَضَاءَ بِالْكُوفَةِ، وَبِيتَ مَالَهَا لِعُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، وَصَدَرًا مِنْ خِلَافَةِ عُثْمَانَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
He was appointed as a judge in Kufa and the treasurer for Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), and during the caliphate of Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him).
مَاتَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ سَنَةَ اثْنَيْنِ وَثَلَاثِينَ، وَدُفِنَ بِالْبَقِيعِ، وَلَهُ بُضْعٌ وَسِتُّونَ سَنَةً
He died in Medina in the year thirty-two and was buried in Al-Baqi'. He was sixty-something years old.
[2] The truthful means:الصَّادِقُ: أَيِ المُخْبِرُ بِالحَقِّ فِي جَمِيعِ أَقْوَالِهِ
The truthful: Meaning the one who informs with truth in all his sayings.
[3] Confirmed in truth means:المَصْدُوقُ: أَيِ فِيمَا يَأْتِيهِ مِنَ الوَحْيِ الكَرِيمِ
Confirmed in truth: Meaning in what comes to him from the noble revelation.
[4] His creation means:خَلَقَهُ: أَي مَادَّتَهُ وَتَكْوِينَهُ، وَهُوَ المَاءُ الَّذِي يُخْلَقُ مِنْهُ
His creation: Meaning his substance and formation, which is the water from which he is created.
[5] Gathered means:يُجْمَعُ: أَي يَضُمُّ بَعْضَهُ إِلَى بَعْضٍ
Gathered: Meaning something is combined with another.
[6] In his mother’s womb means:فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ: أَي فِي رَحِمِ أُمِّهِ
In his mother's womb: Meaning in his mother's uterus.
[7] A drop of fluid means:نُطْفَةً: أَي مَاءً مَهِينًا وَأَصْلُ النُّطْفَةِ: المَاءُ القَلِيلُ الصَّافِي
A drop of fluid: Meaning a lowly water, and the origin of the drop is the small and clear water.
[8] A clot means:ثُمَّ يَكُونُ عَلَقَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ: هَذَا الطَّوْرُ الثَّانِي الَّذِي يَمُرُّ بِهِ الجَنِينُ، وَالعَلَقَةُ هِيَ الدَّمُ الجَامِدُ الغَلِيظُ
Then he becomes a clot for a similar period: This is the second stage that the embryo goes through, and the clot is the thick and solid blood.
[9] A lump means:مُضْغَةٌ: هٰذَا الطَّوْرُ الثَّالِثُ الَّذِي يَمُرُّ بِهِ الجَنِينُ، وَالمُضْغَةُ هِيَ مُضْغَةٌ مِنْ لَحْمٍ، وَسُمِّيَتْ بِذٰلِكَ؛ لِأَنَّهَا قَدْرُ مَا يَمْضَغُ المَاضِغُ
A lump (mudghah): This is the third stage that the fetus goes through, and the mudghah is a piece of flesh, named so because it is the size a chewer could chew.
[10] Angel here means:ثُمَّ يُرْسَلُ إِلَيْهِ المَلَكُ: أَيْ المُوَكَّلُ بِالرَّحِمِ
Then an angel is sent to him: Meaning the one assigned to the womb.
[11] His provision means:رِزْقُهُ: أَيْ تَقْدِيرُهُ قَلِيلًا أَوْ كَثِيرًا، وَصِفَتُهُ حَرَامًا أَوْ حَلَالًا
His provision: Meaning his sustenance is determined to be either little or abundant, and whether it is forbidden (haram) or permissible (halal).
[12] His deeds mean:عَمَلُهُ: أَيْ صَالِحًا كَانَ أَوْ فَاسِدًا
His deeds: Meaning whether they are righteous or corrupt.
[13] His lifespan means:أَجَلُهُ: أَيْ طَوِيلًا كَانَ أَوْ قَصِيرًا، وَهُوَ مُدَّةُ حَيَاتِهِ
His lifespan: Meaning whether it is long or short, which is the duration of his life.
[14] Misserable or happy means:وَشَقِيٌّ أَوْ سَعِيدٌ: أَيْ شَقِيٌّ أَوْ سَعِيدٌ
Misserable or happy: Meaning whether he is misserable or happy.
[15] The deeds of the people of Paradise mean:بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الجَنَّةِ: أَيِّ مِنَ الطَّاعَاتِ
By the deeds of the people of Paradise: i.e., any of the acts of obedience.
[16] The deeds of the people of the Fire mean:بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ: أَيِّ مِنَ المَعَاصِي
By the deeds of the people of Fire: i.e., any of the acts of disobedience.
[17] The decree overtakes him means:فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الكِتَابُ: أَيِّ يَغْلِبُ عَلَيْهِ مَا اشْتَمَلَ عَلَيْهِ الكِتَابُ
So the decree overtakes him: i.e., what is included in the book prevails over him.
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