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DIVINE
DECREE AND DESTINY FROM DIFFERENT
VIEWPOINTS
Divine
Decree and Destiny in relation to Divine
Knowledge
God
is completely beyond our abilities of
comparison and conception, and so we can
acquire only some knowledge of Him, not
of His Divine Essence but rather of His
Attributes and Names, by meditating on
and studying His acts and creatures. To
understand His acts, sometimes we have
to resort to comparisons, as allowed in
the Quranic verse: God’s is the
highest comparison. (30:27) We may get a
glimpse of the relationship between
Divine Decree and Destiny and Divine
Knowledge by pondering the following
comparisons:
Suppose
an extremely skilful man, who is an
engineer as well as an architect and a
builder, wants to build a magnificent
house. First, he must determine what
type of house he wants (the house exists
in his mind). Then, he draws the
blueprints (the house exists as an
actual design or plan). After this, he
builds the house according to the
blueprints (the house acquires a
material existence). As people can see
the house, its image is recorded in
numerous memories. Even if it is
completely destroyed, it lives on in
these memories and in the builder’s
mind and plan (the final form of the
house’s existence, which has acquired
a kind of perpetuity).
Before
writing a book, an author must have its
full content or knowledge of its full
meaning in his or her mind (the book
exists as knowledge or meaning). To make
this knowledge or meaning visible and
known, he or she must express it in
words. Before doing this, he/she
arranges it in chapters, sections, and
paragraphs (a “blueprint”), and then
writes it down (material existence).
Even if the book is destroyed completely
and vanishes, it continues to live in
the memories of those who read or heard
of it, and in the author’s own mind.
Such
existence - existence in mind - is the
thing’s essential existence. Even if
the thing in question is not put into
words or practice, its knowledge or
meaning exists in the mind. Therefore,
although knowledge or meaning need
matter to be seen and known in this
world, it is the essence of existence,
upon which material existence depends.
Likewise,
God has full and exact knowledge of the
universe and all its contents. This is
stated many times in the Quran, as seen
in the following verses:
It
may be that you dislike a thing
although it is good for you, and love
a thing although it is bad for you.
God knows, but you know not. (2:216)
Say:
“Whether you hide what is in your
breasts or reveal it, God knows it. He
knows all that the heavens and the
Earth contain; and He has power over
all things.” (3:29)
With
Him are the keys of the Unseen. None
but He knows them. And He knows what
is in the land and the sea. Not a leaf
falls but He knows it; not a grain
amid the darkness of the soil, nothing
of wet or dry, but (it is) in a
Manifest Book. (6:59)
Say:
“If the ocean were ink for the words
of my Lord, assuredly the ocean would
be used up before the words of my Lord
were finished, even if We brought
another (ocean) like it, for its aid.”
(18:109)
Even
if He had not created the universe, it
still would exist in His Knowledge.
Since God is beyond all time and space,
both of which are united in His
Knowledge as a single point, and since
His eternal, all-encompassing Knowledge
does not depend on them, time is a
unified whole: there cannot be things
like precedence or posteriority or
sequence or division of time. We should
always remember that our categories of
past, present, and future time are only
artificial categories designed to make
our lives more manageable. Time and
space are also only two dimensions of
creation.
Everything
eternally exists in God’s Knowledge,
and He literally knows everything about
everything. Divine Power clothes a thing
in material existence according to
Divine Will, and this transference from
Knowledge into our own world takes place
within the limits of time and space.
Knowledge and Will are two essential
Attributes of Divine Being: God knows
things, things exist in His Knowledge,
His Will determines all of their
specific and general characteristics,
and His Power gives them material
existence. The overall relationship
between Divine Knowledge and Destiny, is
best expressed as: There is not a thing
but with us are the stores thereof. We
send it not down save in appointed
measure (15:21).
Divine
Decree and Destiny in relation to
registry and duplication
Everything
that exists in Divine Knowledge in an
individualized form according to a
certain measure, or, if we may say so,
as a plan or project, is in a Record,
called, in one respect, the “Supreme
Preserved Tablet” (85:21) and, in
another, the “Manifest Record”
(36:12). The Qur’an states that
nothing befalls us save that which God
has decreed or preordained for us (9:51)
and there is not a moving creature on
the earth, nor a flying creature flying
on two wings, but they are communities
like mankind, and that God has neglected
nothing in the Record (6:38).
This
Record (or original Register) is a title
for Divine Knowledge in relation to
creation. During the “process” of
creation, this Register is duplicated.
Its first, most comprehensive
duplication-all of creation-is the “Tablet
of Effacement and Confirmation” (or
the “Manifest Book.”) While the
Supreme Preserved Tablet (or the
Manifest Record) contains the originals
of everything in Divine Knowledge, as
well as the principles and laws of
creation, the Tablet of Effacement and
Confirmation is the reality and,
metaphorically, a page of the stream of
time. Divine Power transfers things from
the Supreme Preserved Tablet onto the
Tablet of Effacement and Confirmation,
arranges them on the page of time and,
in turn, attaches them to the string of
time. Nothing changes on the Supreme
Preserved Tablet, for everything there
is fixed, but during the process of
creation, God effaces what He wills, and
confirms and establishes what He wills
(13:39).
After
birth, everyone is registered in a
Registry of Births. Then, based on this
information, everyone receives an
identity document. Similarly, everyone’s
complete personal characteristics,
particularities, and future life-history
are registered on the Supreme Preserved
Tablet, which then is copied by angels.
These beings record all the information
related to one’s body, and encode it
in cells as information or laws. For
this information to work and come to
life, however, the spirit must be
breathed into the body.
The
other part of this copy is fastened
around our neck as an invisible book
(17:13). We enact whatever is in that
book until it is our time to die. This
does not mean that Destiny or
predetermination compels us to act in a
certain way, for Destiny is no more than
a sort of knowledge. For example, you
send someone somewhere to do a job.
Having already procured whatever is
needed for the journey, you brief the
man and send him on his way. Since you
know in advance how he will behave, you
record all of the journey’s details in
a notebook and hide it in a secret
pocket in his jacket. Unaware of the
notebook, this fellow behaves as he
wants to while traveling. You also
dispatch two of your most reliable men
to follow him in order to observe and
videotape secretly whatever he says and
does. When he returns, you compare the
videotapes with the notebook and see
that they are exactly the same.
Afterwards, you interview him to see if
he followed your instructions, and then
either reward, punish, or forgive him
accordingly.
As
in the example above, God, Who is beyond
all time and space and therefore has
comprehensive knowledge, records our
life-history in the original Register.
Angels copy this information and fasten
a personal register, which we call
destiny or fate, around each person’s
neck. God’s apparent foreknowledge and
recording of our deeds and words do not
compel us to perform them, for whatever
we say or do is the result of using our
free will. Here we should point out that
such “foreknowledge” and “pre-recording”
are apparent, because past and future
time are only relevant to us; they
cannot, and do not, apply to God. As He
“sees” everything at one and the
same time, there is no such thing as “fore-”
or “pre-” when speaking of Him. Our
complete life is recorded by two angels,
called Kiramun Katibun (noble scribers).
On the Day of Judgment, our record will
be presented to us, and we will be told
to read it:
Every
man’s book of life-history (fate)
have We fastened around his neck, and
We shall bring forth for him on the
Day of Resurrection a book which he
will find wide open. (It will be said
unto him): “Read your book. Your own
self suffices as a reckoner against
you this day.” (17:13-4)
Question
Are
man’s actions really predetermined,
and then recorded during his
life-history? (The
meaning of the Manifest Record and
Manifest Book)
Answer:
Believing
in Divine Destiny is one of the pillars
of faith, and, in accordance with this
belief, everything in the universe is
determined by God, the All-Mighty. While
there are countless absolute evidences
of Destiny, it may be sufficient to make
some introductory remarks to demonstrate
how important a place this pillar of
faith has for the whole of creation.
The
Quran specifically explains that
everything is predetermined, and then
recorded after its coming into
existence, as indicated in many verses
like,
Nor
anything green or withered except it is
all in a Manifest Book.
This
Quranic statement is confirmed by the
universe, this macro-Quran of the
Divine Power, through its creational and
operational signs like order, harmony,
balance, forming and shaping, adornment
and distinguishing. All seeds, fruit
stones, measured proportions and forms
demonstrate that everything is
pre-determined before its earthly
existence. Each seed or fruit stone has
a protective case formed in the factory
of Kaf Nun, into which the Divine
Destiny has in-built the life-story of a
tree or plant. The Divine Power employs
the particles according to the measure
established by Divine Destiny so as to
cause the particular stone to grow
miraculously into the particular tree.
This means that the future life-history
of that tree is as though written in its
seed.
While
there is variety between individuals and
between species, the basic materials
from which these plants and animals are
formed are identical. The plants and
animals that grow from the same
constituent basic elements display, amid
abundant diversity, such harmony and
proportion that man cannot help but
conclude that each of them has been
individually given its particular form
and measure. It is the Divine Power
which gives to each its particular form
according to the measure established for
it by Divine Destiny. For example,
consider how vast and innumerable a mass
of inanimate particles shift, cohere,
separate so that this seed grows into
this tree or that drop of semen grows
into that animal.
Since
there are the manifestations of Divine
Destiny to this extent in visible
material things, for certain, the forms
with which things are clothed with the
passing of time and the states they
acquire through their motions are also
dependent on the ordering of Divine
Destiny. Indeed, a single seed displays
Destiny in two ways, one by
demonstrating the Manifest Book (Kitabun
Mubin) which is but another title for
Divine Will and God’s creational and
operational laws of the universe; the
other is by displaying the Manifest
Record (Imamun Mubin), another title for
Divine Knowledge and Command. If we
regard these two as different
manifestations of Divine Destiny, the
former can be understood and referred to
as ‘Destiny Actual’ and the latter
as ‘Destiny Formal or Theoretical’.
The future full-grown form of the tree
can be understood as its Destiny Actual,
whilst Destiny Formal refers to all the
stages together through which the tree
has to pass in its life, and comprehends
the entire history of its life. Such
manifestations of the Divine Destiny, so
easily observed in a life such as that
of a tree, are illustrative of how
everything has been pre-determined in a
Record before its worldly existence. On
the other hand, all the fruits and seeds
which are signs of the Manifest Book (Kitabun
Mubin) and the Manifest Record (Imamun
Mubin), together with all human memories
which indicate the Preserved Tablet (Lawhun
Mahfuz), prove that, as everything has
been pre-recorded, its life-history is
also recorded. The life-history of every
tree, for example, is recorded in each
of its fruits, which is the outcome of
its entire life. The life-history of man
including events occurring in the
external world is likewise recorded in
his memory. Thus, the Divine Power
registers a man’s deeds with the Pen
of Destiny by lodging it in his memory
so that he will be able to remember them
on the Day of Reckoning.
Man
should also be assured that in this
world of transience and upheavals there
are numerous ‘mirrors’ pertaining to
eternity in which the All-Powerful and
Wise One depicts and makes permanent the
identities of mortals. There are also
many tablets upon which the All-Knowing
Preserver writes down the meanings of
transient beings.
In
short: While plants, which are the
simplest and lowest level of life, are
completely dependent upon Divine
Destiny, it is also evident that the
life of man, which is the highest level,
has also been minutely determined by
that Destiny. Just as drops of rain are
indicative of a cloud, and trickles of
water disclose a spring, and receipts
and vouchers suggest the existence of a
ledger, so fruits, sperms, seeds, and
forms are indicators of the Manifest
Book and the Manifest Record.
The
expression Manifest Book symbolizes the
Destiny Actual, which is a title for
Divine Will and God’s creational and
operational laws of the universe and the
physical order displayed by living
creatures. The Manifest Record means the
Preserved Tablet which is the book of
Divine Knowledge and symbolizes the
Destiny Formal or Theoretical
determining the immaterial order and the
life of the universe.
To
conclude: We witness that particles are
in continuous movement during the
formation of a living creature and
travel to their destinations by
complicated routes and remain there.
Their movement results in many benefits,
uses, and instances of wisdom.
Evidently, an apparent measure is
appointed for each thing by Divine
Destiny. If this is so, it is also
observable that even the immaterial
states of living beings result in
certain fruits. Thus, Divine Power is
the agent, and Divine Destiny is the
pattern. Divine Power writes the book of
the meanings on that pattern. We see
that every movement a creature makes in
the course of its existence, and all the
stages through which it passes, are
pre-determined by Divine Destiny and its
whole life forms a harmonious unity.
Since
we understand that a destination and a
certain purposeful result has been
appointed for everything by Divine
Destiny, and accordingly all the stages
it will undergo during its life-time
have also been pre-determined by the
same Destiny, surely, the life-history
of man, the most perfect fruit of the
tree of creation, God’s vicegerent on
earth, and the bearer of His greatest
trust, is more than anything subject to
the law of Divine Destiny.
Question
If
we are so bound by Divine Destiny,
then doesn’t belief in it cause
trouble and discomfort to the soul
desirous of continuous activity and
self-perfection?
Answer
Far
from causing trouble, it provides the
soul with relief, security and comfort.
If a man does not believe in Destiny,
then his soul will have to endure a
burden as heavy as the earth itself for
the sake of an illusory, temporary and
in practice very limited freedom. Man is
connected with the whole universe, while
he cherishes within himself limitless
desires and ambitions, one millionth
part of which are impossible to satisfy
through his own power. Thus, he will
eventually be left alone with
insupportable troubles and torments.
Belief in Destiny relieves man of all
the burdens by assigning the bearing of
them to it. It gives the soul comfort
and tranquility, and enables it to
attain perfect freedom. It only takes
away the illusory freedom of the carnal
soul, and breaks its tyrannical hold
over the man himself. Belief in Destiny
gives man so great a pleasure and
happiness that it cannot be described.
We shall just point to that pleasure and
happiness with the following comparison:
Let
us suppose two men enter a king’s
palace. One of them does not recognize
the king, and tries to live there on
theft and usurpation. However, he
experiences difficulties and hardships
like having to control the palace and
its inhabitants, since the garden
requires special care, and the affairs
of the palace need exact calculation and
management. Operating of the machines
there, provisioning the many strange
animals living in the palace all proves
very difficult for him. So, he suffers
much and this paradise turn into a hell
for him. Finally, he is imprisoned
because of his defective management and
corruption.
As
for the other man, he recognizes the
king and is aware of being his guest. He
perceives and believes that all the
affairs of the palace and the garden are
carried out under the king’s rule and
authority. He comes to understand that
it is the king himself who assumes full
responsibility for governing the palace,
so he enjoys the pleasures of living
there without interfering with anything.
He overlooks certain things which appear
to be disagreeable, trusting in the
compassion of the king and the justice
of his administration, and thus lives a
contented and pleasant life.
Ponder
this comparison and grasp the meaning of
the adage, He who believes in Destiny is
free from anxiety.
Divine
Decree and Destiny in relation with
Divine Will
God
registers everything in His Knowledge in
a record containing each thing’s
particular characteristics, life span,
provision, time and place of birth and
death, and all of its words and actions.
All of this takes place by Divine Will,
for it is through Divine Will that every
thing and event, whether in the realm of
Divine Knowledge or in this world, is
known and given a certain course or
direction. Nothing exists beyond the
scope of the Divine Will.
For
example, an embryo faces innumerable
alternatives: whether it will be a live
being, whether it will exist or not,
when and where it will be born and die,
and how long it will live, to mention
just a few. All beings are completely
unique in complexion and countenance,
character, likes and dislikes, and so
on, although they are formed from the
same basic elements. A particle of food
entering a body, whether an embryo or
fully developed, also faces countless
alternatives as to its final
destination. If a single particle
destined for the right eye’s pupil
were to go to the right ear, this might
result in an anomaly.
Thus,
the all-encompassing Divine Will orders
everything according to a miraculously
calculated plan, and is responsible for
the universe’s miraculous order and
harmony. No leaf falls and no seed
germinates unless God wills it to do so.
Our
free will is included in Divine Will.
However, our relation with Divine Will
differs from that of other beings, for
only we (and the jinn) have the power of
choice; in other words, free will. Based
on His knowledge of how we will act and
speak, God Almighty has recorded all
details of our life. As He is not bound
by the human, and therefore artificial,
division of time into past, present, and
future, what we consider “predetermination”
exists in relation to us, not to God
Himself. For Him, “predetermination
means His eternal knowledge of our acts.
This is an important point because Islam
does not accept the theistic concept of
God, namely, that He created the
universe and left it to run itself. We
are contained by time and space, and
therefore cannot draw exactly true
conclusions about the relation between
the Creator and the creation. Also, we
cannot perceive eternity and have little
true information about this world. God
is beyond all time and space, infinite
and eternal. He holds the universe in
His “hand” and controls and manages
it as He wills. However, so that we
might glimpse His actions and acquire
some knowledge of Him and His
Attributes, He allows His manifestations
related to creation to be limited by
time and space. If He did not do so,
life could not exist and we could
acquire no knowledge of Him and the
universe. Therefore, what we have said
about His Will and Destiny should be
considered in light of the fact that we
can talk about these matters only from
within the bounds of this life (limited
by time, space, and matter) and of our
very existence.
In
sum: Divine Will dominates creation, and
nothing can exist or happen beyond Its
scope. It is also responsible for the
universe’s miraculous order and
harmony, and every thing and event is
given a specific direction and
characteristics. However, the existence
of Divine Will does not mean that we do
not have free will.
Divine
Decree and Destiny in relation to
creation
There
are two aspects of the relation between
Divine Decree and Destiny and creation.
First, as a determining and compelling
factor, Destiny is absolutely dominant
everywhere, except for that realm in
which our free will has a part.
Everything occurs according to Its
measure and determination, judgment and
direction. God is the absolute owner of
sovereignty, and thus does what He
wills. No can call Him to account for
His acts. Being absolutely Just and
Wise, and absolutely Merciful and
Compassionate, He does only good and
never wrongs His creatures.
We
cannot interfere with the universe’s
operation. The sun always sends heat and
light independent of us, the Earth
rotates on its axis and around the sun,
days and months pass, the seasons and
years come and go, and we have no
control over nature. There are
innumerable instances of wisdom in all
of God’s acts, all of which benefit
us, and so we must study and reflect on
His acts to discover their wisdom:
In
the creation of the heavens and the
Earth, and in the alternation of night
and day, there are signs for men of
understanding. Those that remember and
mention God standing, sitting, and
lying down, and reflect upon the
creation of the heavens and the Earth.
“Our Lord! You have not created this
in vain. Glory be to You! Protect us
from the punishment of the Fire.”
(3:190-91)
We
should reflect on what happens to us.
God never wills evil for His creatures,
for whatever of evil befalls a man is
from himself (4:79). In other words, our
sins are the source of our misfortunes.
God allows misfortunes to strike us so
that or sins will be forgiven or so that
we will be promoted to higher ranks. But
this does not mean that God sometimes,
for a reason known only to Him,
overlooks our sins and does not punish
us.
The
second aspect of this relationship
concerns the religious injunctions and
prohibitions, which relate to human free
will. While Divine Destiny is absolutely
dominant in those areas in which our
free will has no part (e.g., the
creation and control of all things and
beings, animate and inanimate bodies,
the movement of planets, and all “natural”
events or phenomena in this world), It
takes our free will into consideration.
However, God creates all things and
events, including all of our deeds,
because He has honored us with free will
and prepared an eternal abode for us.
Although He desires that we always do
what is good and insistently invites us
to it, He does not refrain from giving
eternal, physical existence to our bad
choices and evil acts, however
displeased with them He is.
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