Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Before a person is created, everything about him is written in his destiny. Can anything in that destiny be changed through duʿā?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
There is no doubt that duʿā has an effect in bringing about change in destiny. However, it is essential to understand that the change that appears to happen due to duʿā is itself part of the original destiny.
This means:
So it is not correct to think that a person’s duʿā changes something in destiny that was not written before. In reality:
To understand this reality, consider an incident from the time of the Prophet ﷺ:
This incident proves that:
Undoubtedly, duʿā has great power and influence. However, this influence should not be described as “changing” destiny in the sense of replacing what was written.
Why?
Thus:
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Question
Before a person is created, everything about him is written in his destiny. Can anything in that destiny be changed through duʿā?
Answer
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
There is no doubt that duʿā has an effect in bringing about change in destiny. However, it is essential to understand that the change that appears to happen due to duʿā is itself part of the original destiny.
This means:
- When a person makes duʿā, that act of duʿā is already written in his destiny.
- The outcome that comes as a result of that duʿā is also already written.
So it is not correct to think that a person’s duʿā changes something in destiny that was not written before. In reality:
- The making of the duʿā is decreed.
- The effects and results of that duʿā are also decreed.
Example from the Sunnah – Ruqyah and Healing
To understand this reality, consider an incident from the time of the Prophet ﷺ:
- The Prophet ﷺ sent a group of Companions on an expedition.
- On the way, they sought hospitality from a tribe, but the tribe refused.
- By coincidence, the chief of that tribe was bitten by a snake.
- The tribe asked the Companions if anyone could perform ruqyah (healing supplication).
- The Companions agreed but requested payment.
- The tribe promised them a flock of sheep in return.
- One Companion recited Sūrat al-Fātiḥah over the chief.
- By the blessing of the recitation, the man stood up immediately, as if released from being tied.
This incident proves that:
- Ruqyah (a form of duʿā) has real effect.
- The patient was healed, and that healing occurred as a result of the duʿā.
- But all of this happened within the framework of Allah’s already decreed destiny.
Duʿā and Destiny
Undoubtedly, duʿā has great power and influence. However, this influence should not be described as “changing” destiny in the sense of replacing what was written.
Why?
- Everything is already decreed with Allah ﷻ.
- All causes and their results occur only by Allah’s permission.
Thus:
- The causes are decreed.
- The outcomes that follow them are also decreed and known to Allah ﷻ in advance.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
