In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Gracious

As-Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu

ISLAMIC

RESEARCH AND INFORMATION CENTRE

The Concept of Destiny

Many people, without knowing what the Destiny is, either deny it or fully recline on it. So it is necessary to elucidate the concept of destiny in Islam, as it is an article of Faith in Islam, so that people cannot make any objection against it or any pretext with it.

Destiny has two aspects: 1) Destiny related to what Allah gives to His Creation.

        2) Destiny related to our deeds.

1) Destiny Related to What Allah Gives to His Creation:

Allah gives the things like life, time, health, sustenance, beauty, powers, capabilities, opportunities, etc. to individuals and societies as He wills. When and how much of these things should be given freely, and when and how much of these things should be given on striving for them, have been decided and written already by Allah. This is the Destiny of Allah’s Gifts. This is a reality. So we see the children born in rich families get food, clothes, facilities, opportunities etc. without any struggle for them; but the children born in poor families have to struggle for the same things. Similarly, we see labourers work hard in a factory, yet they do not get as much money as they need; but, in the same factory, the owner’s son earns more than sufficient by just supervising the factory. Similarly, we also see that many rich people become poor, and many poor people become rich. Similarly, we also see that many rich people become richer, and many poor people become poorer. All these and many such events prove that the Destiny of Allah’s Gifts exists. And many a time our experiences too bear testimony over it.

The above-mentioned observations prove, and the Faith in Destiny makes man realize the following points:

1)      Man is dependent on Allah’s Wish, Grace and Mercy.

2)      Man can extend Allah’s Gifts by means of hard work through right channels.

3)      Man can lose Allah’s Gifts as a result of his mistakes or carelessness.

Here, one may ask, “Why has Allah made inequality in giving Gifts? Is it not injustice?” For the answers of these questions, please see the concept of equality.

2) Destiny Related to our Deeds:

     What types of deeds man will do, what consequences his deeds shall bear, what he shall get or lose, and what shall happen - all these things have been written, in the Preserved Tablets (al-Laohul Mahfooz), by Allah, as Allah knows all past, all present and all future. Allah’s Knowledge is perfect and He makes no mistakes. So whatever has been written by Allah, will surely take place. The Faith in the perfection of Allah’s Knowledge is a part of the Faith in Destiny.

     When we say that man will do what has been written or man will get or lose what has been written already or what has been written in the Destiny will surely happen, it means that what man is going to do has been written, and what man is going to get or lose, has been written and what is going to happen has been written in the Destiny.

     This clarifies that man is free to do whatever he can and whatever he wants, and his deeds bring him the results he deserves. Allah knows which man is going to do what deeds and knows what results his deeds going to bring for him. So He has written all that. And what He has written, will surely take place. For His Knowledge is Perfect and He is Absolute. This is the Destiny of our deeds. The Faith in this Destiny makes man realize the following points:

1)      Man is free to do whatever he wants within the limits prescribed, for him, by Allah.

2)      Man’s deeds bear the results that they deserve. So they will be responsible for any bad consequences. So, they must be careful while doing something.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © NOORUL HUSSAIN K. 2004