CSS Forums - What is different between "Taqdeer and Kismat"

The overwhelming majority of religious minded people in general, and that of Muslims in particular, holds the following view. At the moment of Creation, Allah Almighty laid down the rules, which were to govern the operation of the Universe. He also decided the chronology, the timing and the manner of each and every event that was to take place till eternity (the end of the Universe). He also decided the actions and behavior of each and every individual product of His creation non-living matter, the living beings and of course Men. As the popular statement in Urdu says : ‘Not even a leaf stirs without His permission.' Many hold the belief that God alone has the authority to allocate [I]Rizq [/I](sustenance): that is why we see so much disparity in the distribution of wealth. Some believe that one's pre destiny can be changed through extensive prayers, good deeds and exalted intermediaries like saints. It is all a matter of pleasing God either by individual action / pleas or influencing His decisions through someone.

Many also believe that only the major events in one's life are pre determined (such as marriage and education) but not the minor steps leading to a particular major event. That, they say, is the demarcating line between Man's freedom of choice and his pre decided destiny. It is believed that each and every individual is subtly taken through life being driven Willy Nilly to one's destiny by the invisible hand of Fate. This view raises a number of intriguing questions.

[B]The Dilemma
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The afore-mentioned view obviously clashes with the concept of a universally just and fair God. It does not adequately explain why God lets innocent and helpless beings like children suffer in poverty and disease. Why the West fabulously prosperous is while much of Africa, Asia and South America dirt poor? What infinite Divine wisdom decreed the Jewish nation to be downtrodden and homeless for two thousand years? Why is the world's wealthiest nation (the US ) next door to one of the poorest ( Mexico )? Why has Kashmir been denied liberty so far while East Timor has been granted the same? Why are the Palestinians still stateless while Israel is a well established state? Why do we see ‘good' people suffer and ‘bad' thrive? Why were Muslims a superpower a millennium and a half ago but not now? Why are some individuals born deformed and diseased? If one's destiny is unchangeable, why do we at all try to get it changed?Why do we pray and beseech God when we are in the doldrums?

Above all, if we are mere instruments in the grand machinery of Fate, why should God punish or reward us for our actions? After all, we are only following God's intended programmed, are we not?

[CENTER][B][I][FONT=Book Antiqua][SIZE=5]The Quranic View - The Linguistic Aspect [/SIZE][/FONT][/I][/B]
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The word [B][I]taqdeer [/I][/B]stems from the three letter root [I][B]qaa-daa-raa[/B] [/I]with the basic meanings of ‘[B]to measure[/B]'.

[I][B]Qadartush shai[/B] [/I]means ‘I measured the thing';
[I][B]qadarash shai bish shai[/B] [/I]is ‘he measured the thing against the (other) thing':

[B][I]qadartu ‘alaihe s sowb [/I][/B](‘he made clothes according to his measurements);
[I][B]qa dd artu alaihesh shai[/B] [/I]means ‘I made measured changes to the thing'.

Therefore , [I]taqdeer [/I]basically means to make something according to a measure/standard. Some examples of its derivatives are as follows:[LIST][*][B][I]miqdaar:[/I][/B] a model, pattern, or a standard[*][I][B]qadrun:[/B] [/I]measurement (volume, size, weight, etc)[*][I][B]haaza qadrun haaza:[/B] [/I]this is exactly like this (other)[*][B][I]jaa' ‘ala qadrin:[/I][/B] he arrived according to the estimate[*][I][B]jaawaza qadrahu:[/B] [/I]he transgressed his limits[*][I][B]aqdar:[/B] [/I]a horse which trots in a way that its hind hoofs exactly follow the spots made by the front hoofs[/LIST][LIST][*][B][I]al muqtadar:[/I][/B] the middle part of something most probably because that is the most ‘balanced' part Since to make something exactly according to a set standard and specific measurements one needs the ability, prowess and control, [I]qadrun [/I]also means to have power and be in control[/LIST][LIST][*] [I][B]qadartu‘alash shai[/B]: [/I]I had the power needed to change the thing according to my standard[/LIST][LIST][*][I][B]maa lee‘alaika maqdura/maqdara/qudra:[/B] [/I]I don't have any control over you[*][I][B]qaader:[/B] [/I]one who has power and control[*][I][B]adeer:[/B] [/I]one who shapes things according to set standards[*][I][B]qadr:[/B] [/I]value, standard, guiding proportion also, to assess and respect[/LIST]When something is given with no consideration of measure, it carries a sense of plenitude.On the other hand, if it is done with careful measuring, it has an implication of shortage.

[B][I]qadrun: [/I][/B]shortage
[I][B]qadr:[/B] [/I]cauldron (a huge cooking pot) as in [I]qudooren r raasiyaat[/I]

[FONT=Book Antiqua][SIZE=3][U][B]Quranic Reference for Taqdeer: Destiny[/B][/U][/SIZE][/FONT][LIST][*]He has created everything in a particular proportion and has determined the measures for its capabilities and potentialities. Quran Chapter 25 Verse 2[/LIST][CENTER][IMG]http://www.multimediaquran.com/quran/025/c25_2.gif[/IMG]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][B]The One to Whom belongs the kingship of the heavens and of the earth, and has not chosen a child, and has no partner in His kingship, and He has created everything and kept it in proper measure.[/B][/COLOR]
[/CENTER][LIST][*]The conflict between evil and good is necessary for the evolution of the universe.This may be understood by means of Quran Chapter 13 Verse 17[/LIST][CENTER][IMG]http://www.multimediaquran.com/quran/013/c13_17.gif[/IMG]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][B]He sent down water from the sky, so valleys flowed according to their measure, therefore the water flow brought forth the froth swollen upon it; and upon which they ignite the fire, to make ornaments and tools, from that too rises a similar froth; Allah illustrates that this is the example of the truth and the falsehood; the froth then bursts and disappears; and that which is of use to people, remains in the earth; this is how Allah illustrates the examples. [/B][/COLOR]
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[URL="http://www.parvez-video.com/Quran/summary/surah_al_furqan/index.asp"]
[/URL][LIST][*]As regards life after death, it may be explained through an example. A seed, grain or a date stone appears to be lifeless but it contains a life-germ which, given appropriate conditions, bursts forth into a living plant. Quran Chapter 6 Verse 96[/LIST][CENTER] [IMG]http://www.multimediaquran.com/quran/006/c6_96.gif[/IMG]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][B]It is He Who breaks dawn [I](by splitting the dark)[/I]; and He has made the night a calmness, and the sun and the moon a count [I](for time)[/I]; this is the command set by the Almighty, the All Knowing. [/B][/COLOR] [/CENTER][LIST][*]Remember, the system satisfactorily provides for whoever trusts it and ultimately leaves nothing undecided. This is so because Allah Almighty has devised measures (rules and regulations) for everything. Quran Chapter 65 Verse 3[/LIST][CENTER][IMG]http://www.multimediaquran.com/quran/065/c65_3.gif[/IMG]

[B][COLOR=DarkGreen]And will provide him sustenance from a place he had never expected; and whoever relies on Allah - then Allah is Sufficient for him; indeed Allah will accomplish His command; indeed Allah has set a proper measure for all things[/COLOR][/B].
[/CENTER][LIST][*]Then We raise that child by passing him through various stages. According to this law of procreation and life, We have also laid down measures for death. Quran Chapter 56 Verse 60 [URL="http://www.parvez-video.com/Quran/summary/surah_al_Waqiah/index.asp"]
[/URL][/LIST][CENTER][IMG]http://www.multimediaquran.com/quran/056/c56_60.gif[/IMG]

[B][COLOR=DarkGreen]It is We Who have ordained death among you, and We have not been beaten -[/COLOR][/B]
[/CENTER][LIST][*]His Law contains measures for life and death and He has absolute power and control over all of them. Quran Chapter 41 Verse 39[/LIST][CENTER][IMG]http://www.multimediaquran.com/quran/041/c41_39.gif[/IMG]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][B]And among His signs is that you see the earth lying neglected, so when We sent down water on it, it freshened up and grew forth; indeed He Who gave it life, will revive the dead; indeed He is Able to do all things.[/B][/COLOR][URL="http://www.parvez-video.com/Quran/summary/surah_fussilat/index.asp"]
[/URL][/CENTER][LIST][*]Means of sustenance are abundantly stored in the earth but may be taken out only in due measure. Quran Chapter 15 Verse 21[/LIST][CENTER][IMG]http://www.multimediaquran.com/quran/015/c15_21.gif[/IMG]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][B] And there is not a thing the treasure * of which is not with Us; and We do not send it down except by a known measure. [I](* The power to create it.)[/I]
[/B][/COLOR] [/CENTER][LIST][*]Allah Almighty Creates everything by combining different elements and giving it a particular form.Thereafter,by eliminating extra and unnecessary elements,creates proportion and balance in it, Quran Chapter 87 Verse 2-3[/LIST][CENTER]
[IMG]http://www.multimediaquran.com/quran/087/c87-2.gif[/IMG]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][B]The One Who created, and then made proper. [/B][/COLOR]

[IMG]http://www.multimediaquran.com/quran/087/c87-3.gif[/IMG]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][B]And the One Who kept proper measure and then guided. [/B][/COLOR]
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Therefore, we can conclude that God has ordained certain standards and measures for the functioning of the Universe. For instance, it is pre-determined for water to solidify at 0 ° C and vaporize at 100 ° C; for fire to burn and scorch and for the Earth to exert gravitational pull, and so on so forth. In the physical world of living matter (plants, animals and humans), Nature has similarly ordained their [I]taqdeer [/I]– some animals are herbivores, some are carnivores while Man is omnivore. The Sun, the Moon and all the other astral bodies are likewise bound to their respective [I]taqdeer – [/I]their natural life spans and their properties.

But, as has been mentioned before, Man is different from the rest of Creation in having the freedom of choice.Quran Chapter 18 Verse 29

[CENTER][IMG]http://www.multimediaquran.com/quran/018/c18_29.gif[/IMG]

[B][COLOR=DarkGreen]And proclaim, “The Truth is from your Lord”; so whoever wills may accept faith, and whoever wills may disbelieve - We have indeed prepared for the disbelievers a fire the walls of which will surround them; if they plead for water, their plea will be answered with water like molten metal which shall scald their faces; what an evil drink it is; and what an evil destination is hell![/COLOR][/B][/CENTER]

Nonetheless, it is to be noted that Man is free to choose an action but they must bear the naturally ordained and pre-determined consequence of that action. If one puts one's finger in fire, one must suffer burns (because that is the [I]taqdeer [/I]of that action). After that, one must turn to another action with a different [I]taqdeer – [/I]like applying an ointment on the burn.

Similarly, in the human social world, Man is free to choose his actions but must bear the natural consequences of them. The laws governing the physical as well as the human social universe are unchanging and constant. Whosoever follows the Divine Law, even if to a very small extent, and does noble deeds will see pleasant results. And whosoever goes against the law, even if to a very small extent, would get appropriate punishment. Quran Chapter 99 Verse 7-8

[CENTER][IMG]http://www.multimediaquran.com/quran/099/c99_7.gif[/IMG]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][B]So whoever does a good deed equal to the weight of the minutest particle, will see it. [/B][/COLOR]

[IMG]http://www.multimediaquran.com/quran/099/c99_8.gif[/IMG]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][B]And whoever does an evil deed equal to the weight of the minutest particle, will see it. [/B][/COLOR]

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One must act individually or collectively to get results in this universe. To get the desired results, the [I]taqdeer [/I]of the Universe and the relating Laws of Nature must be discovered and kept in view at all times. The Natural laws, as we have seen are the standards and measures of things set by God. In other words, they are the [I]aqdaar [/I]the permanent values which run the entire Universe. These [I]aqdaar [/I]were given to mankind in one of the darkest hours of its intellectual existence. That is why it has been called [I]laila tal qadr [/I]the Night of Values! Historically, the time of the descent of these Permanent Values which are available in the Quran – was the Arab month of Ramadan. That is why that month has been reserved for Fasting, a refresher course of learning self control through studying the natural values given by God through Prophet and Messenger Muhammad peace be upon him in the form of the book we know as the Quran.

This is often a misunderstood concept giving rise to many unanswered questions such as:

a) If destiny has already decreed the final abode of a person then to what avail are his deeds or his supplications to Allah?

b) Many narrations refer to certain actions as a cause of increase in ones wealth, lifespan and also a means of averting calamities. For example Thawban (R.A) reports that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:

[COLOR=DarkGreen][B]“Verily a man is deprived of a provision (that was written for him) because of a sin that he commits; only supplication changes destiny; and only righteousness can increase the life span.” (Nasai, Ibn Majah) [/B][/COLOR]

How may this be when everything has been preordained through destiny?

Firstly, the purpose of mankind’s creation is that we worship Allah the Almighty and we show obedience to Him. Allah states in the Holy Qur’an,

[LEFT][B][COLOR=DarkGreen]“I created the Jinn and humankind only that they might worship me.” [/COLOR][/B][B][COLOR=DarkGreen](51:56)[/COLOR][/B][/LEFT]

Secondly, this world serves as a test of our obedience towards our creator and so that He may reward us in the next world accordingly. Allah states in the Holy Qur’an:
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[LEFT][COLOR=DarkGreen][B]Indeed We have created man from mixed semen; in order to test him - We therefore made him hearing, knowing. [/B][/COLOR][COLOR=DarkGreen][B]We have indeed shown him the way - whether he is grateful or ingrate. [/B][/COLOR][COLOR=DarkGreen](76:2-3)[/COLOR]
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Thirdly, the notion that this world is a test warrants that the subjects being tested possess free-will or else there would be no meaning to such a test.
With the above in mind the concept of destiny may further be explained by understanding destiny to be Allah’s knowledge of how the individual is going to use his free-will rather than a pre-decided factor being enforced upon him without giving him a fair chance. Consider the following example: An appointment is arranged between two individuals. The first arrives before time and waits for the second; he then comments that the second will arrive late as always. He bases his prediction on previous experience and the lax nature of the second individual. This statement does not restrict or bound the latter’s ability to attend on time in any way, it is merely an assertion. Similarly, when Allah the Almighty informs us, through his infinite knowledge, of his knowledge of our precise actions and our consequent abode it should not be perceived to be a compelling decision against our free will, but rather only his knowledge of our decisions.

To summarise, every individual has been given free-will and should use it to work towards attaining the pleasure of Allah and that Allah has full knowledge of the individual’s actions; past, present and future.

With regards to the second misconception, the possibility of increase in ones wealth, lifespan and aversion of calamities despite destiny being pre-ordained, Allah says:
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[LEFT][COLOR=DarkGreen][B]Allah erases and confirms whatever He wills; and only with Him is the real script. [/B](13:39)[/COLOR][/LEFT]
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Commenting on the above verse Mujahid said, “During Laylatul-Qadr (night of the Decrees), Allah decided what provisions and disasters will occur in the next year. He then brings forward or back (or blots out) whatever He wills.” (Ibn Katheer)

Scholars derive from the above that destiny is of two types:

[B]a) Muallaq (revocable):[/B]
This destiny is written on ‘The Preserved Tablet’ (al Lawh al Mahfoodh), and is subject to change and alteration through the omission or commission of certain deeds. For example: the lifespan of a person is originally 50 years, but may increase to 60 years if he performs the ritual of Hajj, or a certain calamity is to befall him unless he averts it by spending in charity. This is the destiny refereed to in the aforementioned narration.

[B]b) Mubram (irrevocable):[/B]
This destiny denotes the eternal knowledge of Allah. It encompasses the final result of the Muallaq destiny i.e. our choice of actions, their consequences and every precise detail of our lives. This definite knowledge of Allah is not subject to change or alter even slightly and is exclusive to Allah only.

In the light of the above the following may be derived:[LIST][*]Our supplications do change destiny and are of much avail.[*]Good deeds are a source of increase in ones sustenance, and avert calamities.[*]Sins result in a decrease in ones sustenance, and invite calamities.[/LIST]