Reality of Taqdeer (fate) of Man and whether it ca

Reality of Taqdeer (fate) of Man and whether it can Change?

By Mohammad Rafique Etesame

Issue of Taqdeer is a burning question among the Muslims and is going on from the early age of Islam. People have great interest in it. That is why almost every newspaper and Magazine publishes a column “Horoscope” and “what the stars forecast?” In which the astrologers and the Palmists tell about the fate of their viewers and also what will happen in the next week? They take the first word from the alphabet of their viewer’s name then matches it to their related stars. While some astrologers choose the “lucky stones” for rings or necklaces like Emerald, topaz, beryl, Agate, coral etc.

So, the question is: what is the reality of the fate (Taqdeer) of man? Literal meanings of taqdeer is “measuring”, as the holy Qur’an reveals,” Lo! We have created everything by measure” (Al-Qamar : 49).

 It means Allah the most high assessed by everything of Universe, particularly for human being about his age, provision, and where he will be buried after death, and whether he will make enter Paradise or Hell, based on his good or bad actions?

There are two schools of thoughts in this issue. First is of the opinion that: human being is quite helpless and forced against his fate, he can do nothing by his own will and authority but that what is already written in his fate. You can assume him as “robot” of his taqdeer, who acts upon whatever his taqdeer wants.

 While the second class is of the opinion that: Taqdeer is nothing else but mankind can do everything by his own will and authority. But the reality is: all the two parties are at fault according to the majority of Muslims. Because the religious scholars say that man is neither quite free to do everything and nor is quite helpless as to do nothing but is in the middle state of affairs.

The famous companion of the holy Prophet (PBUT) Hazrat Ali (R.A.), when he was asked about the issue of taqdeer, he replied to the questioner,” Lift up your one leg”. When he lifted it up, he again said,” now lift up again your other one also”. He replied that it was not in his power. Then Hazrat Ali said that it was the reality of Taqdeer.

Almighty Allah Says in the holy Qur’an, “And a soul and Him Who perfected it, and inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong for it and (what is) right for it.” (Ash-Shams: 8)

These verses reveal that Allah Almighty inspired the knowledge of evil and good in the conscience of man and due to this, man knows well what is the right and what is the wrong for him?

Now the question is: whether Allah the most high awarded only the knowledge of right and wrong actions to mankind and did not give the power to act upon any one of it? If it is so, then the question is: why Allah Almighty has set up ‘Kiraman Katibin’ (Twain recording Angels) over every man to take all their good or bad actions into record? And why will be the accountability set up at the Day of Judgment and also entering mankind in the Hell based of his/her “bad actions”?

Whether we can suppose that Allah Almighty, after has tightened man by the chain of Taqdeer, said to him,” Now go on, and do what you can! I shall put you in the fire of Hell at the Day of Resurrection if your actions would be wrong”?

But it is not rational because Allah is not tyrant and unjust to His creation and is the Beneficent and the Merciful One, as the holy Qur’an reveals, “Say (unto them, O Mohammad): The comfort of this world is scant; the Hereafter will be better for him who wardeth off (evil); and ye will not be wronged the down upon a date-stone”. (An-Nisa: 77) Also reveals,” (And unto him it will be said): This is for that which thy two hands have sent before, and because Allah is no oppressor of His slaves.” (Al-Haj: 10)

He awarded man the authority for doing good or bad actions as it is mentioned in the holy Qur’an,” And that man hath only that for which he maketh effort, And that his effort will be seen, And afterward he will be paid for it with fullest payment; And thy Lord, He is the goal;” (An-Najm: 42) And,” Allah taketh not a soul beyond its scope. For it (is only) that which it hath earned, and against it (only) that it hath deserved”. (Al-Baqarah: 286)

Now, another question: Whether fate of man can change or not? So, according to the teaching of Islam, it can change as the holy Qur’an reveals,”Allah effaceth what He will, and establisheth (what He will), and with Him is the source of ordinance”(Ar-Ra’ad:39). According to the commentators, fate is of two sorts:

(1) Taqdeer ‘Muallaq’ (hanging fate) it can changes.

(2) Taqdeer ‘Mubram’ (Persistent fate) it does not change.

The question is: what can change from the fate of man? So, narrated by Ibn Abbas R.A. and Hazrat Ali R.A. that,” good actions, giving charity (Sadqah) and the supplications that were asked for children of parents, make changes in the fate of man (Tafseer Jalalian, Ma’ari-ful-Qur’an).

 For example, if someone serves his parents and pleases them and if they supplicate,” may you live long my son/daghter and prosper and should no touch you any misfortune!” Then his age and his provision will be increased surely and he will become safe from Hell and any other miserable condition, and so on.

 Palmists Admit the truth that lines of hands changes. For example, line of heart, age, line of fate, The Mount of Jupiter, The Mount of Apollo or The Mount of Venus can change from time to time.

So the reality of Taqdeer is according that: man must make effort to gain the useful substances and (also) make effort to avoid from the harmful substances as he/she can do, because no one can know what is written about his taqdeer good or bad in the “Lauh-e-Mahfooz.”

 This is the only way, as we see that he makes effort in other walks of life i.e. for business, health or other works. For example, if he wants to run a business, then he makes the best planning for it, like providing money, making advertisement and considering market competition etc. At that time he never thinks about his taqdeer and never says, that,” Allah Has mad promised to give my provision, so there is no need to make any effort, it will come to me automatically.” And if unfortunately, he falls ill, then he meets to the experts for remedy, he takes the best medicines and follows his doctor’s instructions. He never thinks at that time that,” if health is already written in my taqdeer, then I would be healthy.” May Allah the most high give us power to obey all His commands due to make better or make to good changes in our fate.