Does Allah always do what is best for someone?
It cannot be said that Allah is required to do any particular action, except if He has promised to do so (so that His actions do not contradict His word), or that the action is necessitated by the meaning of His stated attributes.
Regarding His decree for a person, we believe Allah does what is best, out of his grace upon that believer and due to the attributes He has claimed for Himself. This is alluded to by the Hadith, where the Prophet ﷺ says for a believer that all his affairs are good; if there is good, he thanks Allah and is rewarded, and if there is difficulty, he is patient and is rewarded. [1] Thus, for the believer, whatever happens in his life is decreed as a means of much reward.
Allah says;
عسى أن تكرهوا شيئا وهو خير لكم
“It may be that you dislike something, but it is good for you.”
وعسى أن تحبوا شيئا وهو شر لكم
“And it may be that you like something, but it is bad for you.”
والله يعلم وأنتم لا تعلمون
“And Allah knows, while you know not.”
Therefore, as Muslims, if we are prevented from something we like, that is what is best for us – but we may not know it at the time. Likewise, if we are given or faced with something we don’t like, that is what is best for us even if we may not know it at the time. And how many a time do we see the wisdom in things long after they occur!
But this is all by the grace of Allah, upon the believers, and He does not have to do so. Rather, Allah is complete even if He allowed for something that is not ‘best’ to happen.
And Allah knows best.
Written by Umar Elhashimi
June 9, 2025
Study Hanbali, Ashari, & Maturidi aqida at Arkview.org
Sources:
Sahih Muslim; 2999