ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Supplication In the Eyes of the (as) Supplication and the Divine Decree and Destiny Indeed there is a Divine decree ( qadar ) and destiny ( qada’ ) with regard to each and every thing in the universe, such that there is no way for man to refrain from it, as it is an irrevocable Divine will ( iradah ). In this case, what is the position of supplication in relation to this Divine will?

Can supplication change something which has been subjected to the invariable will of Allah and is already in His knowledge? What is the benefit of supplication if it cannot alter the definite Divine decree and destiny? And if supplication has a role in changing the Divine decree and destiny, then how is this accomplished? In order to answer this question, it is necessary to enter into the issue of the Divine decree and destiny, and also the issue of bada’ .

Since addressing this issue might take us away from our current discussion on prayer ( du’a’ ) to a philosophical discussion, we will try to avoid the philosophical complexities of the issue, talking about it lightly and briefly to the extent that it is related to the answer.

The Law of Causality in History and the Universe The law of causality ( ‘illiyyah ) operates in the course of history as well as in the universe in form of a general and an irrevocable law, without there being any exception to it. Some of the Qur’anic verses pertaining to this fact are: • “To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth.

He creates whatever He wishes.” [^1] • “Indeed Allah does what He desires.” [^2] • “Indeed your Lord does whatever He desires.” [^3] • “All that We say to a thing, when We will it, is to say to it ‘Be!’ and it is.” [^4] • “Had Allah willed, He would have taken away their hearing and sight.” [^5] • “But Allah singles out for His mercy whomever He wishes.” [^6] • “Allah provides whomever He wishes without any reckoning.” [^7] • “And Allah gives His kingdom to whomever He wishes.” [^8] • “Say, ‘O Allah, Master of all sovereignty!

You give sovereignty to whomever You wish, and strip sovereignty of whomever You wish; You make mighty whomever You wish, and You abase whomever You wish; all good is in Your hand. Indeed You have power over all things.’” [^9] • “If He wishes, He will take you away, O mankind, and bring others {in your place}.” [^10] The Qur’an is replete with these verses and the like of them.