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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Philosophical Instructions Lesson Sixty-Nine: Divine Decree and Destiny Introduction One of the problems raised in heavenly religions, especially in the sacred religion of Islam, in the field of theology, which has been explained intellectually and philosophically by theologians ( mutakallimīn ) and metaphysicians, is the problem of decree and destiny ( qaḍā’ wa qadar ), which is one of the most complicated problems in theology and at the core of whose complexity is its relation to man’s free will in his voluntary actions, that is, how can one believe in divine decree and destiny while accepting the free will of man and man’s role in determining his own destiny?

Here, some have accepted the inclusiveness of the divine decree and destiny with respect to the voluntary actions of man but have denied true human freedom. Others have restricted the scope of decree and destiny to involuntary matters, and they consider the voluntary actions of man to be outside the limits of destiny and decree.

A third group has tried to combine the inclusion of the voluntary actions of man in destiny and decree with a demonstration of man’s freedom and volition in choosing his own destiny. They have presented different views the review of which would require an independent book. For this reason, here we shall first present a short explanation of the concept of decree and destiny, and then provide a philosophical analysis and explanation of the relation between destiny and man’s voluntary actions.

Finally, we will explain the benefits of this discussion and the reasons for its emphasis in divine religions. The Concepts of Destiny and Decree The term qaḍā’ (decree) means passing, bringing to an end, finishing, and also means judgment (which, figuratively, is a kind of finishing). The terms qadar and taqdīr mean measurement and measuring and building something to a determinate size. Sometimes qaḍā’ and qadar are used as synonyms in the sense of [the Persian] sarnevesht , destiny.

It seems that the reason why the term nevesht (written) is used in the translation of the Arabic terms is that, according to religious teachings, the destinies ( qaḍā’ wa qadar ) of existents are written in a book or tablet.