Does ambition contradict Fate and divine Decree?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Aspiring to matters that benefit the person in this worldly life and the Hereafter is a praised act under Sharee‘ah. Abu-Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Be keen on that which gives you benefit  and seek help from Allaah and do not lose heart.” [Muslim] This act cannot be considered as dissatisfaction with Fate and what Allaah Has Decreed for the person. Allaah Has Settled the Decrees according to their reasons that He Decreed. Success is a result of exerting one's efforts and study, and He Decreed quenching of thirst as a result of drinking water and similarly He Decreed children as a result of having intercourse. Therefore, if a person aspires to a religious or worldly status that is permissible and he attains it, he achieves it according to the decreed Fate of Allaah for that person. It is impermissible to stop working under the pretext of Fate and Divine Decree since no one but Allaah Knows what is written in the Sacred Tablet. Ibn Hajar said, “There is good wisdom behind hope. Had it not been for hope, no one would have enjoyed his life nor would have had a desire to do anything in this worldly life. However, it is dispraised to be excessive in hope to the effect that one would not be ready for the Hereafter. So, the person who is safe from such dispraised hope is not ordered to abandon it.”

Allaah Knows best.