BY SADAF ALI

One of my friends and I were pondering over similar issues about three years ago. We discussed matters pertaining to Qadr, with people, blessed with, what most consider a sound knowledge of Islam. The realization that dawned upon me at that time was that most people, when asked questions concerning Qadr, respond by stating beliefs they’ve formulated over the course of time, and by and large ignore the body of knowledge – the scholars, who have provided sufficient information regarding this issue. This is something that should be avoided, to say the very least.

What I can do is furnish you with information that should help you in understanding this subject better:

http://www.askimam.org/fatwa/fatwa.php?askid=6325aeeb6c60483727bad41ac257a27e

In the fatwa above you can see the following Hadith:

قال رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لا يرد القضاء إلا الدعاء

Rasulullah (ﷺ)said, “Nothing can change the Divine Decree except Du’aa.” (Jami’ Al-Tirmidhi, Vol. 2, P. 35, HM Saeed)

However, after stating this Hadith the mufti has given Maulana Ahmed Ali Saharanpuri’s opinion on how Du’aa affects Qadr.

“The act of Du’aa which can change taqdeer is also pre-destined in itself, so it will not change what has already been written on the Tablet.”

The following example further elucidates the above passage:

“When destiny was written, Allah Ta’ala already destined that at a certain time at such and such place, Zaid will make Du’aa to Allah and his taqdeerwill then be changed as a result of his Du’aa.

So yes, his taqdeer was changed as a result of his Du’aa. However, the act as a whole was already pre-destined to happen.”

The question now arises, that if everything is predestined aren’t our fates sealed? Why does Allah choose to guide some and misguide others? Are we all analogous to puppets, controlled by a higher power – the puppeteer, deceived into believing that the choices we make are a product of our ability to think? Upon reflection any sensible person would disagree with the aforementioned notion.

This fatwa further clarifies the issue of Qadr:

http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/20806

What I’ve understood after reading the material I’ve posted above, is that our fates are sealed, but a person ends up in (hell or heaven) because of his/her own doing. If a person is eager to please Allah, Allah will cause him/her to do good deeds in this world. If a person sincerely seeks out the truth, and is not proud enough to reject it when he/she sees it, then Allah will guide that person to the truth (Islam). If a person is inherently evil, then he/she will be misguided and his/her hands will mostly send forth evil. In brief, I believe that a good person will be destined to make the right decisions, and a bad person will be destined to make the wrong ones.

We were in the company of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in a funeral procession at Baqi Al-Gharqad. He (peace be upon him) said, “There is none of you but has his place written for him in Paradise or in the Hell- Fire.” They said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Shall we depend (on this fact and give up work)?” He (peace be upon him) said, “Carry on doing (good deeds), for everybody will find it easy to do (what will lead him to his destined place).” Then he recited “As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah, and believes in the Best reward from Allah (i.e. Allah will compensate him for what he will spend in Allah’s way). So, We will make smooth for him the path of ease. But he who is a greedy miser…for him, the path for evil.” Surah Al-Layl, Verses 5-10 (Muslim Vol. 4)

“It is equal to them whether thou pray for their forgiveness or not. Allah will not forgive them. Truly Allah guides not rebellious transgressors.” Surah Al-Munafiqoon, Verse 6.

At this point, you may feel that I have diverted from the topic to some degree, but I believe it is imperative to expound more on how Qadr affects other facets of our life. It is essential to realize what is required of us despite knowing everything is predestined.

One day Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) noticed a Bedouin leaving his camel without tying it and he asked the Bedouin, “Why don’t you tie down your camel?” The Bedouin answered, “I put my trust in Allah.” The Prophet then said, “Tie your camel first, then put your trust in Allah” (At-Tirmidhi).

The subject of Qadr can be easily misunderstood. Our acceptance of Qadr and our trust in Allah do not relieve us of any responsibility for our actions or role in events and situations that arise in our lives, as is evident from the Hadith above. In fact a Muslim is required to execute his obligations and accomplish the tasks undertaken by him/her with Ihsan (perfection or excellence), while bearing in mind that success in any aspect of life comes from Allah and we can only accomplish that which has been predestined for us.

So now remains the million dollar question!  Why should we make Du’aa when we know that difficulties come from Allah, why don’t we face difficulties up to the time Allah has determined? 

The fundamental problem with this question is its lack of appreciation for the benefits of Du’aa. Only recently have I too realized that Du’aa is not merely a conduit through which one asks Allah for the fulfillment of his/her needs. Du’aa plays a much more profound role in the life of a Muslim.

Du’aa is the essence of Ibadah (worship).” (At Tirmdhi, Ahmad)

“The person who does not ask from Allah Ta’ala, Allah Ta’ala becomes angry with him.”

(At Tirmidhi, Ahmad)

“There is nothing more dear to Allah Ta’ala than a servant making Du’aa to him.”
(At Tirmidhi)

“Du’aa is a weapon of a believer, a pillar of religion, and a light of the heavens and the earth.”

(Al-Hakim)

I realize my response speaks mostly on the subject of Qadr. This is because Qadr influences every aspect of our life.