Is Rizq Written Before the Creation: Hadith & Science on Provision

Even though Allah decreed our rizq long before we were born, consider this: 50,000 years before the world was created, our sustenance was already safeguarded on the Divine Tablet.

This shows why the responsibility of provision rests entirely in Allah’s hands, yet we still worry and sometimes lose sight of what is right.

The uncertainty of tomorrow can bring anxiety and restlessness, and questions like “Is my provision already written?” naturally arise.

In this journey, we’ll reveal three powerful facts about how Allah has already determined our rizq, drawing insights from Hadith and scientific perspectives; so, you can understand, reflect, and strengthen your trust in His divine decree.

Decree of Sustenance: Is Rizq Written before You were Born?

Rizq is often misunderstood as money or food alone.

In reality, rizq means every form of provision Allah grants us, such as breath, health, opportunities, peace of mind, knowledge, and even the people who support us along the way.

Allah decreed our rizq before we were born so that life would not become a constant race driven by fear. It was meant to teach us trust, balance, and reliance on Him, not endless worry about tomorrow.

Rizq Verse in the Quran:

The Qur’an reminds us:

وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ

"And there is no moving creature on the earth but that its provision is upon Allah. He knows its dwelling place and its place of deposit. All is written in a clear Book.”

(Surah Hud 11:6 — Kanz-ul-Iman translation)

1. Allah’s Knowledge is Complete and Eternal

"And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. He knows whatever is in the land and the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. There is not a grain within the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry but that it is [written] in a clear record."

(Surah Al-An'am;, 6:59)

Allah’s knowledge is perfect and timeless. He is not bound by time; in fact, Allah created time itself. He is beyond space and time; He always was and always will be.

For Allah, the concept of “past” and “future” does not exist the way it does for us, as He is beyond time. His knowledge has no beginning and no end. He doesn’t learn from anyone, nor does He inherit knowledge or wealth as humans do.

Just like teachers teach students, or parents pass down wisdom, none of that applies to Allah. No one gave Him knowledge, and no one can take from His knowledge. That's why we must first firmly believe that Allah is free from the limitations of time and space. He has always known and always will know everything about His creation:

Who will be born,

How long will they live?

How much they will earn, and

What will happen in every moment of their lives?

Everything has always been written in His eternal knowledge from the very beginning to the end of time.

2. Struggle Is a Test, not a Sign of Lack

A farmer's hands earn little, but his heart trusts Allah completely.

"And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient.”

(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:155)

Allah does not test to harm us; he actually tests to purify us to bring out the best in our souls.

Allah wrote our sustenance beforehand so that this world could become a place of tests and choices. Because life itself is an exam. He planned everything to see what a person would be grateful for when blessed with more. And will they stay patient when given less?

Unlike other creatures, humans have intellect and free will, how the ability to think, decide, and choose. That's what makes us the most honored of all creation. This is why the test is meaningful for humans. Allah knows exactly who will live where, when, and how

And every person’s test is perfectly tailored with justice and wisdom.

3. It’s a System of Divine Mercy and Wisdom

If sustenance (rizq) weren’t already written, the world would fall into chaos, greed, corruption, and injustice. Allah, in His mercy, preordained everyone’s share so that life could have balance, and people could live with peace of mind. Because knowing that “my rizq is already written by my Lord" gives the heart calmness and prevents envy or despair.

Why Greed and Chaos Still Exists Despite Rizq planned by Allah

Halal brings barakah (blessing) Haram brings darkness;

Now another questions naturally rises in the mind.

1. If our sustenance was written long ago, then why do we see so much deceit, greed, and chaos all around us today?

2. If everything was already planned by Allah, perfectly arranged so that nothing could go wrong, then why has the world become a place where truth seems weaker than falsehood, and sincerity is lost beneath layers of hypocrisy?

This is where the real secret lies. Yes; Allah has written every person’s sustenance,

but He placed the choice of the path in our own hands. That's where our test begins.

Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir (رضي الله عنه):

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Indeed, the halal is clear and the haram is clear, and between them are doubtful matters which many people do not know. So whoever avoids the doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor. But whoever falls into doubtful matters falls into that which is haram."

(Sahih al-Bukhari, 52; Sahih Muslim, 1599)

The one who walks toward what is halal finds blessings opening from directions he never imagined. And the one who turns toward haram he stains his own destiny, he darkens what could have been pure and beautiful.

The disorder we see around us is not because of destiny it’s the outcome of our own actions, our own hands. Allah Himself says in the Qur’an:

“Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what people’s own hands have earned.”

(Surah Ar-Rum 30:41)

If it’s all planned, why do we still feel lost?

Human nature longs for control, we want certainty in a world that keeps changing.

The Qur’an reminds us,

“But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you, and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you, Allah knows, while you do not know.” 

(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:216)

Yet today, we live in a world drowned in noise, comparison, greed, deceit, and endless chasing after desires. The more corruption and chaos we see, the more our hearts begin to doubt, forgetting that this confusion is part of the test. We feel lost not because Allah’s plan is unclear, but because the world distracts us from trusting it. True peace isn’t found in controlling life, it’s found in surrendering to the One who already wrote it perfectly, even though we have the freedom to choose.

So pray,

"Guide us to the straight path. (6) The path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your grace, not of those who have evoked Your anger or of those who are astray. (7)"

(Surah Fatiha 1:6-7)

A Reminder to Human Beings, most honored creations

When Allah wrote our sustenance before creating the heavens and the earth,

it wasn’t to control or restrict us, but to keep the system of the world in perfect balance

in which human beings could live with a sense of peace and inner contentment. So that we would know: nothing in this life is random.

"If Allah were to enlarge the provision for His servants, they would surely rebel throughout the earth; but He sends it down in due measure as He wills. Indeed, He is All-Aware, All-Seeing of His servants."

(Surah Ash-Shura 42:27)

This world, in reality, is an examination hall. Each one of us has a paper to solve

and how well we answer depends on how much we’ve prepared, how much patience we hold,

and how deeply we trust Allah’s wisdom.

Those who are pleased with what Allah has written for them find peace that no wealth can buy.

But those who keep comparing, who look at others and let jealousy grow in their hearts

they end up losing the barakah that was already meant for them.

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed:

"If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe."

(Surah Ibrahim, 14:7)

So, the next time your heart feels restless, and a whisper comes “Where is my rizq? Why hasn’t it reached me yet? ”

Pause. Take a breath.

Remember: your sustenance will come. It will find you not a moment early, not a moment late

but exactly when your heart and your time are both ready for it. Because Allah has written a precise time for everything.

Trust His plan.

Believe in His timing.

That trust itself; is faith.

جَزَاكُمُ ٱللَّٰهُ خَيْرًا

Jazakumullahu khairan

May Allah reward you [all] with goodness