The issue of averting divine decree through supplication
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Your Eminence! How do you reconcile the fact that supplication averts the decree with the fact that all matters are decreed before the creation of the heavens and the earth?
We answer that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) decrees things before the creation of the heavens and the earth by fifty thousand years. He decreed that the calamity which was about to occur would be prevented by something, and that something is supplication. Thus, the supplication is decreed, and likewise the calamity that was about to descend is decreed.
So this calamity that was averted or removed after it had descended due to supplication was decreed from the beginning that it would be removed by this supplication, or that it would be prevented by this supplication.
So the supplication is written from the beginning, and the calamity is written from the beginning.
So if a person supplicates for Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to remove the calamity after it has descended, and it is removed by his supplication—as is observed now, a person supplicates and the calamity is removed—this means that Allah has written in the Preserved Tablet that this calamity will descend and that supplication will remove it.
Therefore: Both of them are written. The expected calamity is prevented by supplication, so this calamity that was about to descend, Allah has decreed for it a supplication that prevents it. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us, when the sun or moon is eclipsed, to resort to prayer and supplication; because Allah warns us of a calamity that will descend,And for this he said: (Allah warns His servants with them) and He did not say: Allah takes revenge on His servants with them; but it is a warning and admonition from Allah (Mighty and Majestic). So if we pray and supplicate to Allah, then Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will prevent what we were warned of by this eclipse.
Just as supplication itself is worship, whether it is answered or not, and no person supplicates to Allah with sincerity except that Allah the Exalted gives him one of three things: either He gives him what he asked for.
Or He averts from him an evil that is greater.
Or He stores it for him with Him on the Day of Resurrection as a reward.
We answer that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) decrees things before the creation of the heavens and the earth by fifty thousand years. He decreed that the calamity which was about to occur would be prevented by something, and that something is supplication. Thus, the supplication is decreed, and likewise the calamity that was about to descend is decreed.
So this calamity that was averted or removed after it had descended due to supplication was decreed from the beginning that it would be removed by this supplication, or that it would be prevented by this supplication.
So the supplication is written from the beginning, and the calamity is written from the beginning.
So if a person supplicates for Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to remove the calamity after it has descended, and it is removed by his supplication—as is observed now, a person supplicates and the calamity is removed—this means that Allah has written in the Preserved Tablet that this calamity will descend and that supplication will remove it.
Therefore: Both of them are written. The expected calamity is prevented by supplication, so this calamity that was about to descend, Allah has decreed for it a supplication that prevents it. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us, when the sun or moon is eclipsed, to resort to prayer and supplication; because Allah warns us of a calamity that will descend,And for this he said: (Allah warns His servants with them) and He did not say: Allah takes revenge on His servants with them; but it is a warning and admonition from Allah (Mighty and Majestic). So if we pray and supplicate to Allah, then Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will prevent what we were warned of by this eclipse.
Just as supplication itself is worship, whether it is answered or not, and no person supplicates to Allah with sincerity except that Allah the Exalted gives him one of three things: either He gives him what he asked for.
Or He averts from him an evil that is greater.
Or He stores it for him with Him on the Day of Resurrection as a reward.