Belief in Destiny in Islam | Benefits and Misconceptions

Allah has written destiny of everything in "Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooz" also read as Lawh Mahfuz(لوحِ محفوظ) which means well preserved tablet.

Belief in destiny implies that a person believes and accepts whatever has happened in this universe before as well as whatever is happening in the present and all that has to occur in future is all in perfect accordance with what Allah has already predestined to happen.

He created everything, then ordained their destiny

- [Al Furqan Verse 2]

 Benefits of belief in destiny 

Man is bound to pride when he achieves a little success due to his small effort and he is likely to grieve over his failure. This is so because he believes that the results of his efforts are purely an outcome of his own doing.

In contrast, belief in destiny saves a man both from pride and sorrow because Islam teaches him that whatever the result comes, it is in accordance with Allah's will. Belief in destiny saves a man from pessimism, increases his confidence and prepares him to face even the hardest challenges with a smiling face.

Misconceptions regarding belief in destiny

Some people think that belief in destiny means that a man is helpless and bound with whatever is destined to happen, so there is no need to work hard to achieve something, which is obviously a wrong approach. Destiny is predetermined by Allah and human efforts, they both combine together to shape the victory and failure.

Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that one day Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was sitting with a wood in his hand and he was scratching the ground. He raised his head and said: There is not one amongst you who has not been allotted his seat in Paradise or Hell. They said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), then why should we perform good deeds, why not depend upon our destiny? Thereupon he said. No, do perform good deeds, for everyone is facilitated in that for which he has been created; then he  recited this verse: "Then, who gives to the needy and guards against evil and accepts the excellent, We shall make easy for him the easy end..." [Sahih Muslim 2647c]

Thus we should do our work sincerely and never be dependent on destiny because a person shall surely get rewarded by his deeds.

Another question that arises is: When everything takes place according to predetermined plan of Allah and nothing can happen without His will and permission and while a human being and his deeds are subjected to Allah's will and power, then why should he be made responsible and rewarded or punished for his good or bad deeds?

It is true that not a single leaf can shake without Allah's permission but the fact is that inspite of his control, power and unchallenged will over the tiniest of all creatures in the universe, Allah out of his wisdom, has given a human being conditional freedom to act according to his/her will. It is that of freedom to his thought and freedom to use his organs to act that makes a human being responsible for his/her will.

Discussion about destiny

Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him) relates ,"Once we companions were indulged in argument over the matter of fate, when prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) arrived there, upon knowing what we had been arguing about, he got very much displeased to the extent that his face turned red with anger as though the redness of grapes was squeezed into his cheeks. Then he (ﷺ) said, "Have you been ordained to do so? Have I been sent towards you for this? The fact is that the people before you were destroyed only after they had started arguing about destiny. I put you under oath and again I put. You under oath in future you will never argue about destiny". [TIRMIZI, Ibn Maja]

Thus we should never discuss about destiny and never be disappointed from the mercy of Allah upon certain difficulties. We should do our work sincerely and then leave the results in the hands of Allah.

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Allah and his messenger knows best