Surah Ar-Ra'd (13) — Ayah 39

39. 1. One meaning of this is that He abrogates whatever command He wills and keeps whatever He wills. Another meaning is that He makes erasure and affirmation in the destiny He has written; with Him is the Preserved Tablet. This is supported by some hadiths and traditions. For example, in one hadith it is mentioned that "A person is deprived of sustenance due to sins, destiny is changed by supplication, and life is increased by maintaining family ties" (Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 5, p. 277). From some Companions, this supplication is narrated (اللَّھُمَّ اِنْ کُنْتَ کَتَبْتَّنَا اٰشْقِیَاءَ فَامْحُنَا وَاَکْتُبْنَا سُعَدَاءَ وَاِنَّ کُنْتَ کَتَبْتَنَا سُعَدَاءَ فَائُبِسْتُنَا فَاِنَّکَ تَمْحُوْ مَا تَشَآءُ وَ تُثْبْتُ وَ عِنْدَکَ اُ مُّ الْکِتَابِ) It is narrated from Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that during tawaf, weeping, he would recite this supplication: "اللھم ان کنت کتبت علی شقوۃ او ذنبا فامحہ فانک تمحو ما تشاء وتثبت وعندک ام الکتاب فاجعلہ سعادۃ ومغفرۃ" (Ibn Kathir). O Allah, if You have written wretchedness or sin for me, then erase it, for You erase whatever You will and affirm whatever You will; with You is the Preserved Tablet, so change wretchedness to happiness and forgiveness (Ibn Kathir). An objection can be raised to this understanding that in the hadith it is mentioned: "The pen has dried over what is to be" (Sahih Bukhari). Whatever is to happen, the pen has written it and dried. The answer given is that this erasure and affirmation is also included in decree and destiny itself (Fath al-Qadir).