Can our supplication change our fate?

08:24 - 2021/06/14
Supplicating

First of all, we need to always bear in mind that our fate depends mainly on our action and the way we intend to lead our lives. Allah says in the Quran, 

"God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves."[1]

Therefore, as it is emphasized in the Qur'an, man's fate is not something fixed and irreversible, rather it is liable to any change that might come as a result of our actions: 

"Allah effaces and confirms whatever He wishes and with Him is the Mother Book."[2]

The Power of Supplication
There is no need to mention that supplication forms an important part of our actions and therefore plays a decisive role in the formation of our fate as well as any subsequent changes in the direction of our lives. Imam al-Sadiq (as) said,

"Supplicate and do not say, 'The matter has already been decreed.', for verily there is a station with Allah that can only be attained through supplicating."[3]

Inescapable Fate
There are two kinds of fate: escapable and inescapable. One may think that what we mean is that praying can only ward off an escapable fate, but as for the inescapable fate, there is no way we could change it. The truth is, according to some hadiths, our supplication to Allah can ward off even a fate that has firmly been decided and fixed. Imam al-Baqir (as) said,

"Shall I guide you to something about which the Prophet (sawa) set no exception?" I [the narrator] said, "Yes." The Imam said, "Supplication wards off Fate even if it has been firmly decided."[4]

In fact, our supplication is so effective that in a hadith from the Prophet (sawa), any form of change in our fate is exclusively dependent on our supplication. The Prophet (sawa) said,

"Nothing wards off fate except supplication."[5]

Calamities
Our life in this world is a mixture of sweet and bitter moments and no one can ever claim that he has never experienced any hardships in their lives, but the good news is that we can ward off the calamities that might befall us by means of supplication to Allah. Imam Ali al-Sajjad (as) said,

"Supplication repels descended calamities and those which are yet to descend."[6]

Imam al-Sadiq (as) said,

"If one who fears the onset of a calamity precedes it with supplication, Allah will never afflict him with that calamity."[7]

Thinking about the fact that supplication to Allah holds such a great impact on our lives can give us a hope needed for making amendments and Improvements; a hope that has been missing from man's life for so long. 

References:
[1] The Quran, [13:11]
[2] The Qur'an, [13:39]
[3] al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 466, no. 3
[4] al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 470
[5] Makarim al- Akhlaq, v. 2, p. 7, no. 1978
[6] al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 469, no. 5
[7] Makarim al-Akhlaq, v. 2, p. 10, no. 1992

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