In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

Faith into Destiny and Fate

Written by Sk. Dr. Younis Saleh

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

19 June 2009 ad

26 Jumada Al-Thani 1430 H

This Friday’s talk is a continuation talk about the foundations of faith. Today’s topic is faith in Destiny or fate. The talk involves six aspect of the faith in destiny:

1.                Importance of having faith in destiny and fate

2.                The meaning of the faith in destiny and fate

3.                The doctrine of people of Sunna and jama-ah

4.                levels of faith in destiny and fate

5.                Benefits of faith into destiny and fate

6.                destiny and fate do not contradict freedom of choice

Believing and having faith in destiny and fate is one of the foundations of faith. And it is the basic foundation of perfection. Destiny or fate is Allah’s evaluation to all beings bases on previous knowledge of Allah and His wisdom dictated. Fate is what was already known to Allah, and was already written of every thing to be for eternity. Believing in it, is believing that Allah Almighty, has decided and distributed the destiny for all creatures, and what is to be of things and events even before they come to being. Allah may He be praised, knew they will happen at specific known times in certain manners. He knew of it, and He had it written or recorded in all its details and accuracies, and how he wished them to be and created it. It is going to be without doubt, exactly and precisely as and when He wants it to be. And what Allah does not wish it to be, will never be. He has absolute capability, to make something happen, or make something not happen yet He would have been able to make it happen. Fate is unseen and unsensed but which is based on acceptance and acknowledgement.

The messenger (ppbu) said: {and if something happens to you, do not say: ‘if I did such and such then it wouldn’t have happened’, rather say: ‘Allah has decided, and what He wills He does}.

The doctrine of the people who follow the Messenger’s way of life, and follow the Muslim nation is the same as those who immigrated with the Messenger or those who supported him, and all those who succeeded them with perfection. And that is that Allah creator of all things, Lord and God of all things. And that what He wills will be, and what He does not will shall not be. And that nothing in this creation can be without His knowledge, His will and within His power. Nothing is impossible for Him, and everything is within His power. He knows what was and what will be. And He determined all matters for those He creates before they are created. He determines their length of life, and their death, their incomes, and their deeds and He has all that written. He also has written their levels of happiness and misery. All His slaves are commanded by His commandments and warned to refrain from His prohibitions. We believe in His promise and His threats. And no one has any argument or an excuse for not doing a commanded duty or for doing a prohibition, while Allah has the ultimate argument against all.

Dear Muslims, faith into destiny and fate is based on four interconnected parts, they are:

a)                The Knowledge,

b)               The Writing,

c)                The will and

d)               The Creation.

a) Knowledge means having faith that Allah Has knowledge of everything in generality and in detail. From first time to eternity, knowledge of what is there, and what is not, the possible and the impossible. Nothing even if as small as grain of dust can escape His knowledge. He knows what people would declare or what they hide behind them. Even if a leaf of a plant falls, or grain in the darkness beneath the earth, and anything dry or damp in the land or in the sea will be known to Him.

b) Writing means believing that Allah has already written what He knew of all affairs of His creations until the day of resurrection. Everything that was, or everything that will be is written on a slab at the heart of the Book. The messenger (ppbu) said {Allah wrote all maters of all creatures 50,000 years before he created the heavens and the earth}.

c) The Will refers to the enforced well of Allah, and His absolute power. Anything He will to be shall be. And anything He does not will to be shall not be. No movement, and no remaining motionless, and no guidance, or misguidance except through His will. No small or big event can take place in this universe except with His will. Even our will to do something can only take place with Allah’s will.

Benefits of having faith in destiny and fate.

Faith in destiny has immediate benefits and postponed benefits. It also has status which brings the satisfaction of Allah and which leads to Paradise.

1) The first is that the faithful will perform worship through this faith in the destiny and fate, and through submission and obedience to Allah.

2) It is also a cause of faithfulness when one knows that everything is determined and owned and created by Allah. And that everything comes from Him and that people have no power in nothing. Such knowledge makes one care less for condemning or commending people in what is right. One would not care to satisfy people if it dissatisfies Allah. The messenger (ppbu) said: {if you ask then ask Allah, and if you seek help and support then seek help and support from Allah. And be certain that if the entire nation has agreed to benefit you, they shall not benefit you except with something Allah has already written or decided. And they have agreed to harm you, they shall not be able to do you harm except with something Allah has already written or decided for you. Writing pens have finished writing, and the ink has dried} meaning shall not change.

This increases faith with the faithful, knowing that anything befalls a person is through the will of Allah. If one is stuck with a calamity, and if he/she knows it is from Allah, then accepts and submits. This who accepts shall receive acceptance from Allah. When fate strikes, it will strike with mercy and goodness within. Otherwise, if does not have acceptance, fate will still strike but rather he or she will also be condemned and cursed. This explains the calmness and peace many and coolness of certainty with those with faith when they meet calamities and pains with an acceptance and faith.

3) Another benefit of faith in destiny and fate is having a courageous and a brave heart. Indeed, no soul shall die until it uses up and fulfills all its living. Nothing shall befall an individual except what was already written. Therefore, why worry? And why be afraid? And remember that what hits you couldn’t have missed you. And what missed you couldn’t have hit you. Livelihood or earnings is not obtained through plans, and can not be prevented through envy. This provides one with satisfaction and leads to freedom from being slave to people, and being in need for them. One should know that gives and withholds, elevates and brings down. And this who envies others then he/she is objecting and denying Allah’s distribution.

4) Believing in fate and destiny calls for being optimistic and also believing that victory is coming. Having faith in fate makes the believer patient and gives him/her a strong perseverance. It is through patience that difficulties are passed. It is those with weak faith who can not preserver, and can not face what comes their way; they escape to drugs, and suicide. Having faith in fate and destiny gives strong hope, and good faith in Allah that He has justice, wisdom and mercy in the fate He decided. The faithful does not accuse Allah of Allah imposes on him/her of destiny and fate.

5) Another benefit of faith into destiny is putting one’s trust into Allah and depending on Him alone. That is half of the faith, and the core of worship. Depending on Allah and expecting help from Him, of course after doing what it takes from a practical point of view. That means being dependent on that living God who never dies. And that is confidence and a feeling of assurance and relaxation and being at peace. The level of dependence on and trust in Allah is a measure of the belief of the oneness of Allah. That is seeking others than Allah reduces one’s dependence on Allah. And remember dependence and trust in Allah does not mean being idle and waiting for Allah to have things done for you. The effort must be done and then trust into Allah in expectation. Just like plowing the land or planting a tree.

Believing in destiny and fate does not contradict a man having his own will and for which he shall be held accountable. Every human being has the power and the will and the choice. No one shall force him/her to do good or do evil acts. Those deeds and actions of human beings are creations and of Allah and allowing it to be, But they are the choice and the actions of the individual human being. There are two distinct matters here, the destiny itself, and the acts which make up this destiny. The destiny is from Allah, and it is all justice and good and wisdom. While the acts which make up destiny are the choice individuals make which can be good or otherwise. For example the act of killing a soul, it is Allah destiny and fate that already written the time of death and end of life for the one who is killed. But it is the choice of the killer to do so, committing the crime, and disobeying Allah and dissatisfying Him. Committing an act by own choice and for which he shall be accounted for.

One asked the Messenger (ppbu): explain to us our religion and faith as if we are created today. Our striving and doing good deeds and actions, is that based upon what was already written? Or is in what ever do is something new? The Messenger (ppbu) said: {No, it is all in what was already written}. The man asked: then why should we bother to do anything now? The Messenger (ppbu) said: {do your deeds, for each is facilitated towards his or her own actions}.

Notes:

Adhan - The call to prayer.

Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.

Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.

Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.

Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.

Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)

Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.

Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.

Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

Fiqh - Religious law.

Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.

Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.

Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.

Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.

Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.

Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.

Iman: belief or faith

Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."

Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.

Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.

Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)

Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.

Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.

Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).

Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.

Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah

Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.

PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.

Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.

Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.

Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.

Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.

Siam or Soam- Fasting

Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.

Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.

Surah - A chapter of the Koran.

Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.

Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)

Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.

Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

Zaboor - The Psalms

Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.

Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is : faheemfb@gmail.com