Believing in Divine Destiny is one of the pillars of faith, and, in
accordance with this belief, everything in the universe is determined
by God, the All-Mighty. While there are countless absolute evidences
of Destiny, it may be sufficient to make some introductory remarks to
demonstrate how important a place this pillar of faith has for the
whole of creation.
The Qur'an specifically explains that everything is predetermined, and
then recorded after its coming into existence, as indicated in many
verses like,
Nor anything green or withered except it is all in a Manifest Book.
This Quranic statement is confirmed by the universe, this macro-Qur'an
of the Divine Power, through its creational and operational signs like
order, harmony, balance, forming and shaping, adornment and
distinguishing. All seeds, fruit stones, measured proportions and
forms demonstrate that everything is pre-determined before its earthly
existence. Each seed or fruit stone has a protective case formed in
the factory of Kaf Nun[*], into which the Divine Destiny has in-built
the life-story of a tree or plant. The Divine Power employs the
particles according to the measure established by Divine Destiny so as
to cause the particular stone to grow miraculously into the particular
tree. This means that the future life-history of that tree is as
though written in its seed.
While there is variety between individuals and between species, the
basic materials from which these plants and animals are formed are
identical. The plants and animals that grow from the same constituent
basic elements display, amid abundant diversity, such harmony and
proportion that man cannot help but conclude that each of them has
been individually given its particular form and measure. It is the
Divine Power which gives to each its particular form according to the
measure established for it by Divine Destiny. For example, consider
how vast and innumerable a mass of inanimate particles shift, cohere,
separate so that this seed grows into this tree or that drop of semen
grows into that animal.
Since there are the manifestations of Divine Destiny to this extent in
visible material things, for certain, the forms with which things are
clothed with the passing of time and the states they acquire through
their motions are also dependent on the ordering of Divine Destiny.
Indeed, a single seed displays Destiny in two ways, one by
demonstrating the Manifest Book (Kitabun Mubin) which is but another
title for Divine Will and God's creational and operational laws of the
universe; the other is by displaying the Manifest Record (Imamun
Mubin), another title for Divine Knowledge and Command. If we regard
these two as different manifestations of Divine Destiny, the former
can be understood and referred to as 'Destiny Actual' and the latter
as 'Destiny For-mal or Theoretical'. The future full-grown form of the
tree can be understood as its Destiny Actual, whilst Destiny Formal
refers to all the stages together through which the tree has to pass
in its life, and comprehends the entire history of its life. Such
manifestations of the Divine Destiny, so easily observed in a life
such as that of a tree, are illustrative of how everything has been
pre-determined in a Record before its worldly existence. On the other
hand, all the fruits and seeds which are signs of the Manifest Book
(Kitabun Mubin) and the Manifest Record (Imamun Mubin), together with
all human memories which indicate the Preserved Tablet (Lawhun
Mahfuz), prove that, as everything has been pre-recorded, its life-
history is also recorded. The life-history of every tree, for example,
is recorded in each of its fruits, which is the outcome of its entire
life. The life-history of man including events occurring in the
external world is likewise recorded in his memory. Thus, the Divine
Power registers a man's deeds with the Pen of Destiny by lodging it in
his memory so that he will be able to remember them on the Day of
Reckoning.
Man should also be assured that in this world of transience and
upheavals there are numerous 'mirrors' pertaining to eternity in which
the All-Powerful and Wise One depicts and makes permanent the
identities of mortals. There are also many tablets upon which the All-
Knowing Preserver writes down the meanings of transient beings.
In short: While plants, which are the simplest and lowest level of
life, are completely de-pendent upon Divine Destiny, it is also
evident that the life of man, which is the highest level, has also
been minutely determined by that Destiny. Just as drops of rain are
indicative of a cloud, and trickles of water disclose a spring, and
receipts and vouchers suggest the existence of a ledger, so fruits,
sperms, seeds, and forms are indicators of the Manifest Book and the
Manifest Record.
The expression Manifest Book symbolizes the Destiny Actual, which is a
title for Divine Will and God's creational and operational laws of the
universe and the physical order displayed by living creatures. The
Manifest Record means the Preserved Tablet which is the book of Divine
Knowledge and symbolizes the Destiny Formal or Theoretical determining
the immaterial order and the life of the universe.
To conclude: We witness that particles are in continuous movement
during the formation of a living creature and travel to their
destinations by complicated routes and remain there. Their movement
results in many benefits, uses, and instances of wisdom. Evidently, an
apparent measure is appointed for each thing by Divine Destiny. If
this is so, it is also observable that even the immaterial states of
living beings result in certain fruits. Thus, Divine Power is the
agent, and Divine Destiny is the pattern. Divine Power writes the book
of the meanings on that pattern. We see that every movement a creature
makes in the course of its existence, and all the stages through which
it passes, are pre-determined by Divine Destiny and its whole life
forms a harmonious unity.
Since we understand that a destination and a certain purposeful result
has been appointed for everything by Divine Destiny, and accordingly
all the stages it will undergo during its life-time have also been pre-
determined by the same Destiny, surely, the life-history of man, the
most perfect fruit of the tree of creation, God's vicegerent on earth,
and the bearer of His greatest trust, is more than anything subject to
the law of Divine Destiny.
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Received on Sat Feb 24 2007 - 18:49:34 PST