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Offline Reader Questions

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Pre-Ordained Destiny and Altering Events
« on: March 15, 2012, 03:47:28 AM »
Dear Joseph,

Salam.

I have the following question:

If destiny is pre-ordained, then why do we pray to God to alter events for us?

Offline Joseph Islam

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Re: Pre-Ordained Destiny and Altering Events
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2012, 03:57:18 AM »
Salamun Alaikum.

We must never think of God in a human sense as someone that responds instantly in accordance to changing circumstances and requests by His servants. God's knowledge and purpose is absolute.

God is NOT dependent on time nor does He exist 'in time' that He Himself has created. We exist in time which only applies to us. God transcends time, space and His creation. He is not dependent on the laws He himself has created for us.

A lot of difficulties in our understandings are resolved if we remove God from our linear perception of time and space which He is not subject to. Many verses in the Quran indicate that He is in the past, present and future simultaneously and governs affairs from outside His universal creation.

For example, one's prayer at the grave of a beloved was heard even before the person who died was created. This is something very important to consider.

Situations are created so that individual choices can be 'manifested' not so that they can be 'forced'. There is a crucial difference. 

For example, examiners know the questions they will write to test their students. But where an examiner will not know the student's answers in advance and will not be able to effectively decide the next course of action, God will, due to His 'absolute' knowledge.

So indeed, God has knowledge of what one will do and what one will ask, but this does not mean God 'forced' these choices as part of destiny. He just took account of them before He initiated his master-plan for this Universe.

In a similar manner, one's request to alter a situation in the present was heard by God and taken into account before the Universe was created. This does not challenge but rather, supports the purpose of prayer.

I hope this helps, God willing.

Regards,
Joseph.
'During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act' 
George Orwell