Disaster education from an Islamic perspective: clarifying predestination and fatalism in disaster risk reduction

Misinterpretations of Islamic teachings concerning disasters persist in some communities, particularly in conflating predestination (qadar) and fatalism. Such misunderstandings often foster passive attitudes that discourage proactive disaster risk reduction. In Islamic thought, predestination affirms divine decree alongside human responsibility, whereas fatalism assumes inevitability without human intervention. This study examines disaster education from an Islamic perspective by clarifying this conceptual distinction and exploring how Islamic education shapes beliefs and values related to disaster preparedness. Using a qualitative literature-based approach, the study analyses primary Islamic sources Qur’an (the primary sacred text of Islam) and Hadith (recorded sayings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad) and scholarly literature on religion, education, and disaster studies. The study proposes a novel conceptual framework that delineates the transition from theological fatalism to proactive agency through the integration of Al-’Ilm (knowledge), Ikhtiyar (effort), and Tawakkul (trust). Findings indicate that Islamic teachings encourage knowledge acquisition, human effort, and ethical responsibility, rather than passive resignation. Fatalistic beliefs reduce engagement in disaster preparedness, while a proper understanding of predestination promotes active participation and collective responsibility.