What is the meaning of the Hadith: "When Allah creates a servant for Paradise, He uses him for the deeds of the people of Paradise, until he dies upon a deed from the deeds of the people of Paradise, whereupon He admits him into Paradise. And when He creates a servant for the Fire, He uses him for the deeds of the people of the Fire, until he dies upon a deed from the deeds of the people of the Fire, whereupon He admits him into the Fire"?

Abu Dawud narrated with an authentic chain from Muslim ibn Yasar al-Juhani that Umar ibn al-Khattab was asked about the verse: "And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam—from their loins—their descendants" (7:172). Umar said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, being asked about it, and he said: "Indeed, Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, created Adam, peace be upon him. Then He stroked his back with His right hand and extracted from it offspring, and He said: 'I have created these for Paradise, and they will perform the deeds of the people of Paradise.' Then He stroked his back and extracted from it offspring, and He said: 'I have created these for Hell, and they will perform the deeds of the people of Hell.'" A man then asked: "O Messenger of Allah, then for what purpose are deeds?" The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, when Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, creates a servant for Paradise, He employs him in the deeds of the people of Paradise until he dies upon a deed of the people of Paradise, and He admits him into Paradise thereby. And when He creates a servant for Hell, He employs him in the deeds of the people of Hell until he dies upon a deed of the people of Hell, and He admits him into Hell."

This hadith relates to faith in divine decree (Qadar) and clarifies that the deeds of servants proceed according to what Allah's knowledge has already preceded. Muslim narrated from Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, that Suraqa ibn Malik asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "For what purpose are deeds? Is it concerning what the pens have dried upon and what the decrees have transpired, or concerning what we will encounter?" He said: "No, rather it is concerning what the pens have dried upon and what the decrees have transpired." He then asked: "So, for what purpose are deeds?" He said: "Act, for everyone is facilitated for what he was created for."

It is obligatory to believe in the four levels of Qadar: Allah’s knowledge of things before they exist, the inscription of that in eternity, His will encompassing every existent thing, and His creation and bringing them into existence.

Anything beyond that, referred to as "the secret of Qadar," is not permissible to delve into. Ali ibn Abi Talib, when asked about Qadar, said: "It is a dark path, so do not traverse it... a deep sea, so do not enter it... a secret of Allah hidden from you, so do not disclose it."

The saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, suffices us: "Act, for everyone is facilitated for what he was created for."