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Many people in this age would pay a lot to know their
future. High-flying politicians and wealthy businessmen would
give away everything to gain a much bigger fortune, if it is
predicted by some soothsayer. Some even have in-house
astrologers whom they consult prior to making major decisions.
The daily newspapers and periodicals, too, publish horoscopes
for the 'benefit' of readers. Besides gazing at the stars,
fortune-tellers also attempt to read one's fate and destiny from
tarot cards, crystal balls, and coffee cups, and even consult
canaries.
Islam as a complete religion did not ignore issues of fate and
destiny. Indeed, the subject is covered under the sixth Article
of Faith. Islam teaches that Fate (qadhaa) and destiny (qadr)
can be divided into two types: Mubram and Mu'allaq.
Mubram means that everything originates from Almighty Allah and
occurs according to his specified fate, which cannot be changed,
such as one's ethnic grouping at birth, natural disasters and so
forth.
Mu'allaq, on the other hand, means that the human being is given
freedom of choice. He has the free will of attempting to improve
himself, his family and community; strive to avoid tragedy; and
transform himself/herself from being a disobedient person into
an obedient one.
This state of man's free will is exemplified in the following
verse:
"Indeed, We showed him the way, it is for
him whether he is grateful or ungrateful." [Al-Insaan: 3]
Man has been shown the Way by means of Revelations through men
of the highest spiritual standing, that is the Prophets. If he
is grateful, he will accept Guidance, be one of the Righteous
and join the company of the Blessed. If not, he rejects his
destiny and gets thrown into the blazing fire of punishment. His
choice rests on his will.
In the powerful qadhaa and qadr equilibrium, Almighty Allah
knows about everything such as magnitude, quality and nature,
before he even creates it. He knows to the minutest detail of
its coming into being and passing away, and the place of its
occurrence. His Divine Will encompasses all things and events
that occur, whether they be good or evil, and indeed He has
recorded every event that will occur to His creation.
In a hadeeth (sayings of Prophet Muhammad - pbuh) narrated by
Abdullah ibn Amr al-As, he reported that he heard the Prophet
say:
"Allah ordained the destiny of the creation
fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the
earth." [Muslim]
(From VisionIslam) |
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