Belief in destiny is not a pretext for failing to do good deeds

25/11/2009| IslamWeb

Question

Why do we commit deeds that we will be accountable for, despite the fact that Allah the Almighty has prior knowledge of them?

Fatwa

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

Allah The Exalted has created the worldly life with a certain wisdom that he mentioned in the Quran; He Says (what means):

•        {[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed,  and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving} [Quran 67:2]

Life is a place for testing people by sending them messengers and scriptures. Those who believe in the messengers and abide by what is in the scriptures will be among the dwellers of Paradise, while those who disbelieve will be among the dwellers of Hell. The Prophet, sallaallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was asked about people’s deeds, whether they were predetermined or a new matter. He said that they were predetermined. So then he was asked about the reason for committing deeds. The Prophet, sallaallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered them to work because Allah will help everyone to do what he was created for. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):

•        {Indeed, your efforts are diverse. As for he who gives and fears Allah. And believes in the best [reward], We will ease him toward ease. But as for he who withholds and considers himself free of need, and denies the best [reward], We will ease him toward difficulty.} [Quran 92:4-10]

Thus every person should commit good deeds, search for means of guidance, and supplicate Allah The Almighty to help him adhere to religion.

Believers should know that Allah The Exalted has created people while knowing their sustenance, life span and what they will do. We find that most people ask about bliss and wretchedness, but not about sustenance, while both are similar in that both are not revealed to creatures but are in the prior knowledge of Allah The Almighty. Indeed we must trust the wisdom and justice of Allah The Almighty and we must be certain that he does not punish anyone undeservingly and that He is oft-Forgiving.

The rule is that a person should submit to the will of Allah The Almighty in anything, whether the mind is capable of comprehending it or not. Moreover we should believe that any deficiency lies in us, not in the wisdom of Allah the Almighty, Who Says (what means):

•        {He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.} [Quran 21:23]

And Allah knows best.