Hence one should consider oneself...

Hence one should consider oneself, as well as one's knowledge, power and will-all of them-to be a part of the conditions and means associated with the occurrence of some matters that one attributes to oneself. Hence one should devote greater effort to matters wherein one's will and effort form a part of the conditions and causes of their realization-like one through whom a work assigned to him by his Master, Creator and Beloved, is accomplished.

Such a view reconciles jabr (predestination) and qadar (total freedom), which arc brought into harmony, for if that work be attributed to the Creator, it would entail jabr and if ascribed [exclusively] to its conditions and means that would imply qadar.

But if the matter is viewed correctly, it will be seen that neither jabr is absolute nor qadar, and one would discover the truth of this statement: Neither predestination nor independence of causal efficiency, but a middle position between the two. 25 Thus one should consider oneself to be effective (mutasarrif) in actions attributed to oneself, with the efficiency of the means, not the efficiency of the agent in relation to the means.

In fact, these two considerations-one of which is in relation to the agent and the other in relation to the means-come together [in a synthesis]. Thus everything derives from the agent without the means abandoning its mediating character. This point is extremely subtle and cannot be arrived at except with the exertion of the intellectual faculty.

Whoever arrives at this point will know for certain that the destiny (muqaddar) of all beings is one: that everything that happens comes into existence at a particular time through particular means and causes in particular conditions, and any haste in making it happen or an effort to delay it beyond its time is ineffectual.

He will know himself to be a part of the conditions and means [necessary for their occurrence], freeing himself from attachment to the matters of the world, to concentrate on that which relates specifically to himself rather than to something else. Thereat he would realize the real meaning of the statement: Does not God suffice His servant?

(39:36) And thereupon he would be one of the mutawakkilun (those who put their trust in God), and it is about him and the like of him that this verse has been revealed: ... and when thou art resolved, put thy trust in God; surely God loves those who put their trust [in Him].