Our Destiny in the Quran
Much has been said about our destiny and the words Allah has mentioned in the Quran to explain it to us. Many of us think that since Allah has said that He alone is the one to determine our destiny and what life has to offer (which He indeed does) there is no point to do what Allah has asked us to do, nor to pray, nor to go on the straight path that Allah has decreed for us. However that is a completely incorrect approach as no doubt Allah has the power to write our lives, he has left it upon us to choose the right path.
Allah has said in the Quran about our destiny, "For We do determine (according to need); and We are the best to determine (things)." (Surat al-Mursalaat: 23) Allah has told us in very specific words that only He can determine things, provided we have the will to go to the right path. This means that we as Muslims should ask Allah for whatever we want, pray to Him and then keep our faith in Him to give us what is best for us. And if Allah chooses to give it to us or not give it to us, we should be thankful for that is Allah making our destiny.
About fate and what befalls us Allah has also mentioned in the Quran about its timing. Timing plays a very important part in our destiny as our life here in this world is short-lived. We as humans become impatient when we don’t get something “soon”. But how soon is soon? An hour, a day, a week, a year? We cannot know , neither can we predict. Allah has said in the Quran, “We hold the store of everything and we send it down in an appointed measure”. (Surah al-Hijri, 15:21). Allah has promised us that what we have to get we will get at an appointed time and we must pray to Allah for it as it makes our faith stronger and we become good Muslims.
The companions of the Prophet (PBUH) also believed the same about the destiny of the humans, “What is destined for you will reach you, even if it be underneath two mountains. What is not destined for you will never reach you, even if it be between your two lips”. Hazrat Umar (R) That is the power of what Allah can do to change our fate, if only we knew!
Another ayah in the Quran that confirms that even though our destiny is in Allah’s hands we are the ones who solely shape it when he says “Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because of the things your hands have wrought, and for many (of them) He grants forgiveness (42:30)” So it is upto us. If something has gone wrong, we are responsible for it. If we have sinned, it is on us (because we listened to the shaytaan and went on the wrong path, not the right one) And immediately after Allah tells us that He will forgive us. Such beauty in the words of Allah who loves us unconditionally. So let’s all work towards going to the right path and making our own destiny, one that takes us to Jannah and not Jahannum. Ameen.
