Whatever Will be, Need Not be  

Traditionally Muslims are required to believe in fate (Fatalism) as part of their faith in Islam. It is one of the six Articles of Faith which, all Muslims must profess.

In the past however this was not always the case. Since early Islamic history there have been arguments on whether there was such a thing as fate at al I. The elements of faith are mentioned in the Quran among others in Sura al Nisa, verse 136.

"O you who believe, you shall believe in God and His messenger and the scriptures He revealed previously; and anyone who disbelieves in God His angels His scriptures, His messengers and the Last Day has indeed strayed far away.

Conversely then, if one believes in these five elements, one will not stray far away. Note carefully that belief in "fate" (fatalism) is not mentioned at all in the Quran.

On the contrary the Quran states very clearly that our future is very much in our hands. The Quran says,

"...God does not change the blessings He had bestowed upon any people, unless they change themselves. God is Hearer, Knower." Sura 8:53

Therefore it is up to us to help ourselves.

"Say, "I am not asking you for any wage. All 1 ask is that those of you who so choose, may follow the path to their Lord" Sura 25:57.

It is up to us to choose- and to choose wisely. And let us always bear in mind that all these verses of the Quran are also the sayings Of the Prophet because the Quran was revealed through the Prophet.

Therefore the belief in fate (fatalism) is alien to the Quran and the Prophet.

However it is not alien to other religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism. Among Muslims the actual belief in fatalism varies. Those who are poor whether they are educated or not, tend to believe in it more than others.

Those who are poor whether they are educated or not, tend to believe in it more than others.

Those who are uneducated or ignorant, whether they are rich or poor, also tend to believe in it.
After the famous Muassim tunnel tragedy in Mecca, the Saudi king said that the 1500 victims were fated to die in the tragedy. Nothing could be done about it. Many people agreed with him.

But still, despite the temptation of having such a wonderful scapegoat, many Muslims sometimes try not to fully believe in fate. But again, only when it suits their purposes.

In the month of Ramadhan for example, many Muslims attend the "tarawih" prayers in the mosques at night. The first few nights of Ramadhan see good crowds at the mosques. By the second week however the attendance usually dips.

Then in the last ten nights it usually picks up again. This is because many believe that "Lailatul Qadr" happens during one of the odd nights (especially the 27th night) in the last ten nights of Ramadhan.

The reason for wanting to be present at "tarawih" prayers during "Lailatul Qadr" is many. One which, I have heard is that on that night, if one prays "tarawih" hard enough and supplicates hard enough, then one's fortunes for the coming year may be changed for the better.

Therefore the belief in fatalism is tempered by the belief that there is a "window of opportunity" available on the night of "LailatuI Qadr" whereby one may be able to change his fate!! Necessity is indeed the mother of invention.

God says:
"Righteousness is not the turning of your faces towards the East or West. But righteousness is to believe in God, the last day, the angels, the scriptures and the prophets, and to donate money despite one's love thereof to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the alien, the beggars and to free the slaves and to observe the salat and zakat, and to keep the promises that are made and to remain steadfast in the face of adversity, hardship and war. These are the truthful, these are the righteous". Sura 2:1 77.

Therefore the Islam that is given to us in the Quran is a religion of positive action. It is not a religion of negative confrontation or a religion of surrender to fate.