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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Man and His Destiny Part 8: Qur’an is the Source of Teachings The Holy Qur’an is the original source of the doctrine which requires man to believe in fate. At the same time it tells him that they are the masters of their destiny. The Qur’an alludes to people the plurality of destiny also. “It is He who has created you from clay, and them has decreed a term for you to live. There is another fixed term with Him” .

( Surah al-An’am , 6:2) The Qur’an does mention the Protected Tablet, the Eternal Book and the ordained destiny. It says: “There is nothing green or withered, but is recorded in a clear Book” . ( Surah al-Hadid , 57:22) But it also says: “ Every moment He brings about a new manifestation of His Power ” . ( Surah al-Rahman , 55:29) Someone asked the Holy Prophet (s): “Has Allah finished what we are busy with, or are we doing something new”. The Prophet (s) said: “He has finished and He has not”.

(Commentary on Usul al-Kafi by Mulla Sadra). Invariability In Nature We have said that the religious leaders have mentioned two kinds of destiny. We have also said that the destiny of the heavenly abstracts, unlike that of the things existing in nature, is always irrevocable. Let us now add that in nature also irrevocable destiny exists. In other words there are events which must take place in a fixed manner. For example in nature everything in existence is preceded by its non-existence.

Everything must emanate from some other existing thing. These are examples of an irrevocable destiny. Every natural thing must perish, unless it is converted into an immaterial being. This is another example of an irrevocable destiny. All the things that exist in this world reach a stage at which they cannot change their course. Either they should follow the prescribed course or must vanish. For example, through the union of a male-sperm with a female ovum one single cell is formed.

It lays down the foundation of the hereditary characteristics and temperament of the coming child. These hereditary traits are bound to affect his future destiny. Had the union of this particular sperm taken place with the ovum of some other female, a different child with a different temperament and some different characteristics would have been formed. But once an embryo has been formed, it is not possible to change its characteristics.

At this stage the destiny has become definite and irrevocable at later stages.