Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
A person's provision is written and decreed, and he does not die until he has received all the provision Allah has written for him. However, it is not correct for us to state with certainty that the specific money he obtained through theft would have reached him in exactly the same amount and through the same means had he not stolen it, because this is part of the unseen that Allah has not disclosed to us.
It is authentically reported from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Each of you is formed in his mother's womb for forty days, then he is an embryo for a similar period, then a lump of flesh for a similar period. Then Allah sends an angel who is commanded with four matters, and it is said to him: Write his deeds, his provision, his lifespan, and whether he will be miserable or blessed...”
Narrated by al-Bukhari (3208) and Muslim (2643).
This indicates that a person's provision is written. There is also an earlier writing in the Preserved Tablet. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Allah wrote the decrees of all creation fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, and His Throne was upon the water.”
Narrated by Muslim (2653).
Allah knows, before things occur, what His servants will do, what provision they will receive, and all the causes connected to that.
Yes. The texts indicate that a servant does not die until he has received his provision.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“O people, fear Allah and seek provision in a proper manner, for no soul will die until it has received all its provision, even if it is delayed. So fear Allah and seek provision in a proper manner. Take what is lawful and leave what is unlawful.”
Narrated by Ibn Majah (2144), and authenticated by al-Albani.
He ﷺ also said:
“If one of you were to flee from his provision, it would pursue him just as his appointed time pursues him.”
Narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Awsat (4444), and graded hasan by al-Albani.
He ﷺ also said:
“Do not regard provision as slow in coming, for no servant will die until he has received the last portion of provision that was allotted to him. So seek provision properly: take what is lawful and leave what is unlawful.”
Narrated by al-Hakim and authenticated by al-Albani.
These texts show that the provision Allah has written for a servant will reach him, and that its delay does not mean that it will be lost.
We cannot state this with certainty.
We have no evidence specifying that the particular money the thief took unlawfully would have reached him in exactly the same amount, at exactly the same time, and through exactly the same means had he refrained from stealing it.
This is part of the unseen, which human beings do not know.
What we know with certainty is that Allah has written the servant's provision, that he will not die until he has received it, and that Allah has simultaneously commanded him to seek provision through lawful means and forbidden unlawful means.
Therefore, a person cannot say: “If this money was destined for me, I would receive it whether I took it by theft or through lawful means.”
The servant does not know what Allah has written for him. Rather, he knows what Allah has commanded him to do and what He has forbidden him from doing. Therefore, he should seek what is lawful and avoid what is unlawful.
It is incorrect for a person to use divine decree as an excuse to justify theft or consuming unlawful wealth.
Allah has established means for provision and commanded His servants to follow lawful paths. He has also made piety one of the causes of goodness and provision.
Allah, Most High, says:
“And whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make for him a way out, and provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set a measure for everything.” [At-Talaq: 2–3]
Divine decree does not prevent action. Rather, action itself is part of the decree, including striving to seek lawful provision.
A Muslim should not become preoccupied with asking what would have happened had he chosen another path, because this belongs to the unseen that he cannot know.
Rather, he should act according to what Allah has commanded him: seek lawful provision, avoid what is unlawful, rely upon Allah, and trust that whatever Allah has written for him will reach him.
The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, asked the Prophet ﷺ about divine decree and action, and he said:
“Work, for everyone will be facilitated.”
He ﷺ then explained that the people of happiness will be facilitated toward the deeds of the people of happiness, and the people of misery will be facilitated toward the deeds of the people of misery. He then recited the words of Allah:
“As for the one who gives, is mindful of Allah, and believes in the best reward, We will facilitate for him the way to ease. But as for the one who is miserly, considers himself self-sufficient, and denies the best reward, We will facilitate for him the way to hardship.” [Al-Layl: 5–10]
It is not correct to state with certainty that the money obtained by a thief through unlawful means would have come to him in the same amount, at the same time, and through the same means had he not stolen it. This is an unseen matter that we do not know.
What must be believed is that provision is written, that the servant will receive what Allah has decreed for him, and that he must nevertheless strive to seek what is lawful and avoid what is unlawful.
A person must not use divine decree as an argument to justify theft or disobedience, nor should he concern himself with details of what might have happened had he chosen another path. Rather, he should do what Allah has commanded, leave what He has forbidden, and rely upon Him.
And Allah knows best.