One of the interesting aqeedah discourses is the issue of Dua and Qadar. How they relate and work together. Every Muslim would want to know if Dua can change his predestined, so as to intensify more efforts in making Dua for a good worldy affairs and Qadar. Interestingly, there is no direct answer to this question. Rather, it is a differed upon (aqeedah) topic by the old and contemporary scholars – due to varying available evidences and valid explanations of the Qur’an And Sunnah.
I will buttress and highlight these differences below:
1: We have reverred scholars who believe that Dua can change Qadar because it is a form of worship and submission to Allah. While we also have reverred scholars who believe otherwise, that Dua cannot change Qadar because Allah has already written everything that will happen.
2: Just so you don’t forget the basic concepts of Dua and Qadar. Dua is the act of supplication or prayer, and it is considered an important part of worship in Islam. Qadar, on the other hand, is the concept of divine decree or predestination. It refers to the idea that everything that happens is already written in the divine decree of Allah.
3: Those who believe that Dua can change Qadar base this belief on a few different sources. For example, there are a few hadiths that suggest that Dua can be effective in changing Qadar. Additionally, there are several verses in the Quran that speak of the power of Dua. However, other scholars argue that these same sources actually indicate that Dua cannot change Qadar.
4: To understand the debate between these two schools of thought, we need to explore the concept of Qadar in more depth. Qadar, as said, refers to the idea that everything that happens is already written in the divine decree of Allah. This means that every event in the world, big or small, is already known and decided by Allah. Some scholars argue that if this is the case, it would not be possible for Dua to change the outcome of any event, because that would mean going against the divine decree.
5: So, the argument against Dua changing Qadar also draws on the concept of divine wisdom. In Islam, it is believed that Allah is all-knowing and all-wise, and that everything He does is for a reason. So, the argument goes, if He has already written something to happen, it is because it is best for the overall scheme of things. Therefore, it would not be possible for Dua to change Qadar, because that would mean going against Allah’s infinite wisdom.
6: So, to respond to the arguments against Dua changing Qadar, proponents of the other view point out that the Quran and hadiths also speak of the power of Dua. There are multiple verses that speak of the importance of Dua and how it can lead to forgiveness and blessings. There are also hadiths that describe instances where the Prophet’s Dua did in fact change the outcome of certain events.
7: This is where the argument really gets interesting. So, some scholars argue that there is a distinction between two different kinds of Qadar: Qadar al-mu’allaq (conditional qadar) and Qadar al-muqtadir (absolute qadar). Conditional qadar refers to events that are already determined to happen, but that can be influenced or changed by human actions, such as Dua. Absolute qadar, on the other hand, refers to events that are fixed and cannot be changed under any circumstances.
8: Some scholars who support the view that dua can change qadar al-mu’allaq, or conditional Qadar include the famous Hanafi scholar Imam al-Sarakhsi, the Shafi’i scholar Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, and the Hanbali scholar Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah.
9: On the other side of the argument, there are several scholars who hold the view that Dua cannot change qadar al-muqtadir, or absolute qadar. The most prominent of these scholars are the Hanbali scholar Ibn Taymiyyah, the Shafi’i scholar Imam al-Nawawi, and the Maliki scholar Imam al-Qurtubi. All of these scholars argued that the concept of absolute qadar is clear in the Quran and hadiths, and that it would be impossible for Dua to change this.
10: Just so you know that there are scholars who take a middle position in this argument. Scholars like the Hanbali Ibn al-Jawzi and the Shafi’i Ibn al-‘Arabi argued that while Dua cannot change the overall decree of Allah, it can change the specific manner in which an event occurs. So, for example, they argued that Dua can change whether an event is easy or difficult, swift or delayed, etc. But they maintained that Dua cannot change whether the event occurs at all.
11: One of the evidences of scholars who argued against Dua changing Qadar is the question of free will. These scholars argue that if Dua could change Qadar, it would mean that humans have the power to change what is pre-ordained by Allah. This would contradict the Islamic belief in predestination, and would effectively make humans the creators of their own destinies. This would be a violation of the fundamental Islamic belief that only Allah is the Creator.
12: Another argument against Dua changing Qadar is the principle of divine wisdom, or hikmah. The basic premise of this argument is that Allah is all-knowing and all-wise, and so He must have a reason for decreeing events the way that He does. If Dua could change these events, it would mean that humans could change Allah’s plans in ways that are not wise or beneficial. Some scholars argue that this would be a denial of Allah’s wisdom and perfection.
13: Another argument against Dua changing Qadar is based on the concept of divine justice, or ‘adl. This argument holds that if Dua could change Qadar, it would mean that Allah’s decisions about events are arbitrary and subject to the whims of humans. This would imply that Allah is not Just, and would again contradict a fundamental principle of Islam. So, this argument also maintains that Dua cannot change Qadar.
14: These scholars also present another argument against Dua changing Qadar, and that is based on the principle of divine power, or qudrah. This argument argues that since Dua is a form of worship, and worship comes from the servant, it cannot have any effect on the power of the Master, i.e. Allah. So, this argument maintains that Dua cannot change Qadar because it is not within the power of humans to change the decisions of Allah. In this view, Dua is simply a means of drawing closer to Allah and attaining His mercy and forgiveness.
15: Just like I mentioned earlier that there are some scholars who take a more nuanced view of this issue. They argue that while Dua cannot change the overall decree of Allah, it can still have an effect on specific events. For example, they argue that Dua can change how an event occurs, or the details of the event, but not whether it happens at all.
16: These scholars include the famous Hanafi scholar Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, and the Hanbali scholar Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi. Al-Ghazali argued that Dua can change “the accidental properties” of an event, but not its “essential properties.” In other words, Dua can affect the timing, circumstances, and details of an event, but not the overall fact that the event occurs.
You can find references to al-Ghazali’s view in his book “Ihya Ulum al-Din”. Specifically, he talks about this in his chapter on supplication, or “al-dua’ wa al-tawassul.” As for Ibn Qudamah, his views are discussed in his book “Al-Mughni,” specifically in the section on supplication.
17: I should also mention arguments in favor of Dua changing Qadar. The first argument is based on a hadith from the Prophet solla Allahu alayhi wa sallam which states, “Nothing can prevent the decree of Allah except supplication.” This hadith is understood by some scholars to mean that Dua can in fact change the decree of Allah. Another argument in support of this view is based on the idea that Dua is a form of worship, and as such, it must have some effect. Worship is seen as a way to draw closer to Allah, so it follows that Dua should also have some positive effect.
18: Another argument is that Dua can change the decree of Allah because He has given us the ability to do so. This argument is based on the Islamic belief that Allah has given humans free will, which means that we have the ability to make choices and affect our own destiny. By extension, this would also mean that we can affect the decree of Allah through our choices and actions, including dua.
19: The fourth argument for Dua changing Qadar is based on the idea that Allah responds to the supplications of His servants. This is supported by numerous verses in the Quran that describe Allah as being responsive to the prayers of believers. For example, the Quran says, “And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.” (2:186). This idea is central to the concept of tawakkul (reliance on Allah), in Islam.
20: These scholars also argue that Dua can change Qadar because Allah has the power to do so. They say that while Allah has decreed certain events to happen, He can also intervene to change them if He wills. This is based on the Islamic belief that Allah is omnipotent, or all-powerful, and can do whatever He desires. This idea can be found in many Islamic texts, such as the hadith that states, “Verily, Allah does whatever He wills.” (Sahih al-Bukhari). So in summary, these are the main arguments for Dua being able to change Qadar.
21: In addition to the arguments of scholars who disagree with the idea that Dua can change Qadar:
- They argue that the Quran and hadith emphasize the importance of accepting Allah’s will, not trying to change it. For example, there is a hadith that says “Know that if the whole world were to come together to benefit you with something, they would never benefit you except with what Allah had already prescribed for you.”
- They argue that the concept of Qadar is rooted in the idea of divine justice and fairness. If people could change Qadar through Dua, it would undermine Allah’s justice and the idea that everyone is accountable for their own actions.
22: At the end of the day, the debate around whether Dua can change Qadar is ultimately about understanding the nature of Allah’s power and will. It’s about understanding how Allah interacts with the world and with His creations. It’s a fascinating theology topic, and there’s a lot to explore and discuss.
23: Some Arabic sources that I will recommend are:
- “Al-Iqtiṣād fī al-I’tiqād” by al-Ghazali
- “Al-Radd ‘alā al-Mantiqiyyīn” by al-Ghazali
- “Al-Fawz al-Kabīr fī Uṣūl al-Dīn” by al-Razi
- “Al-Muhassal fī ‘Ilm al-Kalam” by Ibn Hazm
- “Al-Risala al-Qushayriyya” by Al-Qushayri
These texts are classics in Islamic theology, and they provide in-depth discussions on the topic of predestination and the role of human agency.
24: As for me, I do not see anyone who believes in either of the opinions as heretic. Even though I tend to believe in the concept of Qadar al-mu’allaq and Qadar al-muqtadir. There are indeed some cases Dua may change their circumstances, and there are events that have been fixed and can never be changed by Dua under any circumstances.
May Allah grant us goodness in this life and the hearafter….
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JazãkumuLlahu khayran