❖ Islamic Perspective: Can Destiny Be Changed or Not? ❖
Source: Fatawa al-Din al-Khalis, Vol 1, p.91
Question:
Can destiny (Taqdeer) be changed or not?
(Asked by Brother Abdul Salam and Brother Abdullah)
Allah ﷻ does not commit even the slightest injustice against anyone. Rather, if someone performs a good deed, He multiplies it many times and rewards it with a great recompense from Himself.
Allah’s mercy for His servants surpasses even a mother’s mercy for her child. Our Lord invites us to the abode of peace (i.e., Paradise) and grants guidance to whomever He wills.
Once it is established that Allah ﷻ does not commit injustice and has no intention of wronging His servants, then it becomes clear that Taqdeer (destiny) is not a form of oppression—as some ignorant individuals wrongly claim.
For example, some people say:
◈ “If Allah has written adultery in someone's destiny, why would He then take him to account for it?”
◈ “If Allah has sealed someone's heart with misfortune, why would He then punish him?”
These objections arise due to misunderstanding the wisdom behind Divine Decree (Qadha and Qadr).
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal رحمه الله was once asked about Taqdeer by Ibn ‘Aqil رحمه الله, and he replied:
"Taqdeer is the knowledge of Allah."
Meaning:
Allah ﷻ does not force adultery or theft upon anyone.
Rather, He has written that:
Then that person, without any compulsion, by his own will, will choose to commit a sin.
Allah already knows that he will disobey out of his own free will.
This foreknowledge is what is referred to as Taqdeer.
The knowledge of Allah ﷻ is absolute and unchangeable; therefore, destiny in itself does not change.
However, certain acts mentioned in the Shariah appear to alter one's life, sustenance, or other worldly affairs — but these too are already encompassed in Allah’s prior knowledge.
Scholars have categorized Taqdeer into three types:
This is the type of destiny that never changes.
Examples include:
This is the type of destiny that can change based on good or bad actions.
Examples:
◈ “If so-and-so shows kindness to his parents and maintains family ties, I will increase his lifespan.”
◈ “If he disobeys, breaks family ties, and spreads corruption on the earth, I will reduce his provision and lifespan.”
This is the form of Taqdeer upon which du‘a (supplication), charity, good or evil deeds have visible effects.
Examples from Hadith:
◈ “Charity wards off calamities.” (Tirmidhi)
◈ Du‘a can change destiny — but even that is part of Allah’s prior knowledge.
When a soul is breathed into a fetus in the womb, an angel is appointed to write its destiny.
According to authentic Hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim:
When the child is four months old, Allah sends an angel to record four matters:
◈ His lifespan
◈ His sustenance
◈ His actions (good or bad)
◈ Whether he will be fortunate or wretched
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿يَمحُوا اللَّـهُ ما يَشاءُ وَيُثبِتُ ۖ وَعِندَهُ أُمُّ الكِتـٰبِ﴾
“Allah eliminates what He wills and confirms what He wills, and with Him is the Mother of the Book.”
(Surah Ar-Ra‘d: 39)
According to the commentators, this verse refers to Mu‘allaq Taqdeer, i.e., that which can change based on one's deeds.
Whereas “Umm al-Kitab” (The Mother of the Book, i.e., al-Lawh al-Mahfuz) contains the Mubram (unalterable) destiny, which does not change.
✔ Destiny (Taqdeer) is pre-written in the knowledge of Allah ﷻ and cannot be altered.
✔ There are two main types of destiny:
✔ Du‘a, charity, and good actions may avert calamities and influence one's worldly affairs — yet these are also within Allah's prior knowledge.
✔ Allah ﷻ never wrongs anyone. Each person is judged based on their own actions.
✔ The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah is that belief in Taqdeer is an essential component of faith, and sects like Jabriyyah, Qadariyyah, and Mu‘tazilah went astray due to excessive philosophical interpretations.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best.
Source: Fatawa al-Din al-Khalis, Vol 1, p.91Question:Can destiny (Taqdeer) be changed or not?
(Asked by Brother Abdul Salam and Brother Abdullah)
❀ The Justice and Mercy of Allah ﷻ
Allah ﷻ does not commit even the slightest injustice against anyone. Rather, if someone performs a good deed, He multiplies it many times and rewards it with a great recompense from Himself.
Allah’s mercy for His servants surpasses even a mother’s mercy for her child. Our Lord invites us to the abode of peace (i.e., Paradise) and grants guidance to whomever He wills.
❀ Taqdeer and Divine Justice
Once it is established that Allah ﷻ does not commit injustice and has no intention of wronging His servants, then it becomes clear that Taqdeer (destiny) is not a form of oppression—as some ignorant individuals wrongly claim.
For example, some people say:
◈ “If Allah has written adultery in someone's destiny, why would He then take him to account for it?”
◈ “If Allah has sealed someone's heart with misfortune, why would He then punish him?”
These objections arise due to misunderstanding the wisdom behind Divine Decree (Qadha and Qadr).
❀ Taqdeer is the Knowledge of Allah ﷻ
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal رحمه الله was once asked about Taqdeer by Ibn ‘Aqil رحمه الله, and he replied:
"Taqdeer is the knowledge of Allah."
Meaning:
Allah ﷻ does not force adultery or theft upon anyone.
Rather, He has written that:
- I will create so-and-so person.
- I will grant him choice and intention.
- I will create causes for both obedience and disobedience.
Then that person, without any compulsion, by his own will, will choose to commit a sin.
Allah already knows that he will disobey out of his own free will.
This foreknowledge is what is referred to as Taqdeer.
❀ Can Destiny Be Changed?
The knowledge of Allah ﷻ is absolute and unchangeable; therefore, destiny in itself does not change.
However, certain acts mentioned in the Shariah appear to alter one's life, sustenance, or other worldly affairs — but these too are already encompassed in Allah’s prior knowledge.
❀ Categories of Destiny
Scholars have categorized Taqdeer into three types:
① Mubram (Final and Unalterable Destiny):
This is the type of destiny that never changes.
Examples include:
- The appointed time of death.
- Whether someone will ultimately be from the people of Paradise or Hell.
② Mu‘allaq (Conditional Destiny):
This is the type of destiny that can change based on good or bad actions.
Examples:
◈ “If so-and-so shows kindness to his parents and maintains family ties, I will increase his lifespan.”
◈ “If he disobeys, breaks family ties, and spreads corruption on the earth, I will reduce his provision and lifespan.”
This is the form of Taqdeer upon which du‘a (supplication), charity, good or evil deeds have visible effects.
Examples from Hadith:
◈ “Charity wards off calamities.” (Tirmidhi)
◈ Du‘a can change destiny — but even that is part of Allah’s prior knowledge.
❀ Destiny Written by the Angels
When a soul is breathed into a fetus in the womb, an angel is appointed to write its destiny.
According to authentic Hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim:
When the child is four months old, Allah sends an angel to record four matters:
◈ His lifespan
◈ His sustenance
◈ His actions (good or bad)
◈ Whether he will be fortunate or wretched
❀ The Qur'anic Verse on Changing Destiny
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿يَمحُوا اللَّـهُ ما يَشاءُ وَيُثبِتُ ۖ وَعِندَهُ أُمُّ الكِتـٰبِ﴾
“Allah eliminates what He wills and confirms what He wills, and with Him is the Mother of the Book.”
(Surah Ar-Ra‘d: 39)
According to the commentators, this verse refers to Mu‘allaq Taqdeer, i.e., that which can change based on one's deeds.
Whereas “Umm al-Kitab” (The Mother of the Book, i.e., al-Lawh al-Mahfuz) contains the Mubram (unalterable) destiny, which does not change.
Summary
✔ Destiny (Taqdeer) is pre-written in the knowledge of Allah ﷻ and cannot be altered.
✔ There are two main types of destiny:
- Mubram (Final) – unchangeable
- Mu‘allaq (Conditional) – seemingly changeable based on deeds
✔ Du‘a, charity, and good actions may avert calamities and influence one's worldly affairs — yet these are also within Allah's prior knowledge.
✔ Allah ﷻ never wrongs anyone. Each person is judged based on their own actions.
✔ The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah is that belief in Taqdeer is an essential component of faith, and sects like Jabriyyah, Qadariyyah, and Mu‘tazilah went astray due to excessive philosophical interpretations.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best.
