This is perhaps one of the most commonly misunderstood, or the hardest to “grasp” topic of all ages!

So many have presented opinions on this topic throughout history but not many have actually done solid research on what the Quran and the Rasul (saw) have said about fate. 

It’s actually quite interesting, there are so many books on the topic of fate, but close to none of what the Rasul of Allah (saw) has taught regarding this topic can actually be found in them.

In order to validate the concept of “free-will” verses regarding fate have been pushed under the rug! 

My understanding of good virtue is that if one falls impotent in explaining a particular verse or a hadith he should admit his impotence and inadequacy rather than pushing it under the rug.

Those who adopt the view, “One determines his own path in life with his free-will, and faces the consequences of his own choices” are called the “Qadariyah” about whom the Rasul (saw) has said, “The Qadariyah are the Zoroastrians amongst my followers.”

The Qadariyah believe that a person determines his own fate, and Allah, from afar, watches and observes it all!

In point of fact the Quran invalidates this concept with countless verses.

There are also other views such the “ahli sunnah” and “jabriyyah” however I don’t wish to discuss these here as I am not trying to assert a particular view, everyone’s view is for themselves. 

I only felt the need to touch on the topic of fate after examining the make-up of man, the effects he lives under, the mechanics of his being and existence…

All of this naturally brought us to the topic of fate, for we must also accept this truth!

What is the value of man’s will, power and possessions next to the glory of Allah, his Sublimity and Greatness?

In short, how much power does man have in the sight of the One denoted by the name Allah?

What is the value of man in the sight of the One who created the hundreds of billions of galaxies full of stars so much greater than our Sun?

Here is a hadith al-qudsi:

The Rasul of Allah (saw) said:

Allah says: 

“O my servants! All of you are misguided other than those among you that I rightly guide. Ask of me so that I shall grand guidance to you.

All of you are poor, other than those among you that I make wealthy; ask of me so that I shall grant provision to you.

All of you are sinners, other than those among you that I have forgiven; he who knows my mercy and forgiveness and asks to be forgiven, I shall forgive him regardless (of the greatness of his sins).

If all of you, from the most precedent to the most proximate, the living and the dead, the wet and the dry, were to have the heart of my most pious servant it will not add the worth of a mosquito wing to my dominion!

If all of you, from the most precedent to the most proximate, the living and the dead, the wet and the dry, were to have the heart of my most impious servant it will not lessen the worth of a mosquito wing from my dominion!

And if all of you, from the most precedent to the most proximate, the living and the dead, the wet and the dry, were to come together and each of you asked for as much as his heart desired, I will give to each and every one of you all of your wants and this would still not lessen anything from my dominion; it will be no different than if one you dipped the tip of a needle into an ocean to take some water out!

I DO AS I WILL!

Both my forgiveness and my punishment are my promise.

If I will for something to be, I say “Be” and it will be!”

So, what do you think?

Is this hadith enough to put us into our place?

In the sight of the One who likens stars that are millions of times greater than our Sun to the tip of a needle, what do you think is the place of our much arrogant and boastful human race?

Do we have the power to do anything “despite” Allah!?

So now we come to the topic of FATE…

In the section on astrology, I had explained how the life of the brain is programmed with cosmic effects and that this program was not subject to change under normal conditions. In other words, the fate of the person is written during the formation of the brain with the “cosmic pen” whose ink has dried and is hence unalterable.

The fate of man… 

Does he have any control over his fate?

Is everything predetermined?

Is everything done and dusted?

Let us see what the Quran and the Rasul of Allah (saw) have to say about this…