It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), who is truthful and trusted, told us and said:“Indeed, your creation is such that you are kept as a drop of fluid in your mother’s womb for forty days, then as a clot of blood for forty days, then as a lump of flesh for forty days, then an angel is sent to it and he breathes the soul into it and is commanded with four words: its provision, its death, its deeds, and whether it will be wretched or blessed. So, by the One besides whom there is no deity! Indeed, one of you performs the deeds of the people of Paradise until there is only a hand’s span between him and Paradise, but the decree overtakes him and he ends his life with the deeds of the people of Hell, so he enters Hell. Likewise, a man performs the deeds of the people of Hell until there is only a hand’s span between him and Hell, but the decree overtakes him and he ends his life with the deeds of the people of Paradise, so he enters Paradise.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the drop of fluid remains in the womb for forty days or nights, Allah Almighty sends an angel to it. Then the angel asks: O my Lord! What is its provision? So it is answered. Then he asks: O my Lord! When will its death be? So it is informed. Then he asks: O my Lord! Will it be male or female? So it is informed. Then he says: O my Lord! Will it be wretched or fortunate? Then this too is informed to him."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Hudhaifah bin Asid Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the drop of fluid remains in the womb for forty or forty-five nights, an angel enters upon it and asks: O my Lord! What is the command—will it be wretched or fortunate? Male or female? Then Allah Almighty informs him, and both these things are written down. Then he says: What is the command—male or female? Then Allah Almighty informs him, and these things are also written down. Then its deeds, lifespan, calamities, and provision are written, and the scroll is rolled up, and nothing can be added to it nor taken away from it."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“Allah Almighty has decided five things for every servant: his death, sustenance, lifespan, and whether he will be wretched or fortunate.”