Does supplication avert the divine decree?
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Question:
Does supplication avert the divine decree? It was reported from 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "O Allah, if You have written me as wretched, erase it and write me as happy. O Allah, if You have written me as one who will die, erase it and write me as a martyr."
Answer:
It is stated in the hadith:Sunan Ibn Majah 4022Da’if (Darussalam), and the meaning is: regarding the conditional divine decree, for supplication and the divine decree interact. So the intended meaning of the divine decree is: that which is not decreed as inevitable and is not conditional. The inevitable divine decree cannot be changed: such as death. If one were to say, "O Allah, do not let me die," he would still die. But the conditional divine decree, which Allah has made contingent upon something, this supplication is part of the contingency, which is what Allah has decreed. It may be that it is written for a person that if he does not travel to such and such, such and such will happen to him. So Allah encourages him and decrees the travel for him, so he travels and is saved from what Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) made contingent upon not traveling; for He is the One who willed the travel and arranged it for him, if He had made it contingent upon a specific harm: the occurrence of a specific illness, or meeting a specific person, or the like. This is a conditional decree. These conditional decrees only come to fruition by the presence of the conditions upon which Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) made them contingent.
As for what is reported from 'Umar: this is not from 'Umar, but rather it is reported from Ibn 'Umar: that he used to say: "O Allah, if You have written me as wretched, write me as happy." This is from Ibn 'Umar. He thought it falls under the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Surah al-Ra'd: 39].
And what is known among the majority of scholars is: that one who is written as wretched does not waver; he remains wretched, and one who is written as happy is happy. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said when asked about the divine decree:Sahih al-Bukhari 4945. They said: O Messenger of Allah, then what is the point of working? He said: , and he said: Sahih Muslim 2649a. Then he recited the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Surah al-Layl: 5-10]. And the only divine decree that is erased is that which is conditional upon something.
Likewise, regarding the legislations, Allah abrogates from them what He wills. Allah erases what He wills, and He establishes from the legislations, good deeds, and bad deeds, along with their causes. As for the inevitable divine decree that Allah has written and not made conditional, this is not changed: such as happiness, wretchedness, death, and the like.
Does supplication avert the divine decree? It was reported from 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "O Allah, if You have written me as wretched, erase it and write me as happy. O Allah, if You have written me as one who will die, erase it and write me as a martyr."
Answer:
It is stated in the hadith:
nothing repels the Divine decree except supplication
لا يرد القدرَ إلا الدعاءAs for what is reported from 'Umar: this is not from 'Umar, but rather it is reported from Ibn 'Umar: that he used to say: "O Allah, if You have written me as wretched, write me as happy." This is from Ibn 'Umar. He thought it falls under the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Allah eliminates what He wills or confirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book.
يَمْحُو اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ وَعِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِAnd what is known among the majority of scholars is: that one who is written as wretched does not waver; he remains wretched, and one who is written as happy is happy. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said when asked about the divine decree:
There is none of you but has his place written for him in Paradise or in the Hell- Fire.
ما منكم من أحدٍ إلا وقد عُرض مقعده من الجنَّة ومقعده من النارIndeed, Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) has decreed the decrees, so whoever is among the people of happiness, He facilitates for him the deeds of the people of happiness, and whoever is among the people of wretchedness, He facilitates for him the deeds of the people of wretchedness
إنَّ الله جلَّ وعلا قدَّر الأقدار، فمَن كان من أهل السَّعادة يسَّر له عمل أهل السَّعادة، ومَن كان من أهل الشَّقاوة يسَّر له عمل أهل الشَّقاوةEveryone is facilitated in what has been created for him.
كلٌّ مُيَسَّرٌ لما خُلِقَ له(5) As for he who gives and fears Allah (6) And believes in the best [reward], (7) We will ease him toward ease. (8) But as for he who withholds and considers himself free of need (9) And denies the best [reward],
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَى فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَى وَأَمَّا مَنْ بَخِلَ وَاسْتَغْنَى وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنَى فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَىLikewise, regarding the legislations, Allah abrogates from them what He wills. Allah erases what He wills, and He establishes from the legislations, good deeds, and bad deeds, along with their causes. As for the inevitable divine decree that Allah has written and not made conditional, this is not changed: such as happiness, wretchedness, death, and the like.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.