Nothing Moves Without His Will

Mohammad Taukir Rahmani
EC Exclusive

In the vast landscape of human history, there are certain moments that transcend mere events — they become beacons of thought, merging intellect with faith, choice with destiny, and reason with revelation. One such illuminating incident emerges from the golden age of Caliphate under Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA).

As the Caliph journeyed toward Syria with his army, he reached the border town of Sargh, where news reached him of a deadly plague ravaging the region. Aware of the gravity of the situation, Umar (RA) sought counsel from the companions and eventually decided to return. It was then that the noble companion, Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah (RA), questioned him: “O Commander of the Faithful! Are you fleeing from the decree of Allah?” What followed was not just a reply but a profound exposition of divine will and human agency. Umar (RA) responded, “If only someone other than you had said that! Yes, we flee from the decree of Allah to the decree of Allah.” He then illustrated his point: “Suppose you have a camel and there are two pastures before you — one fertile and the other barren. Choosing to graze your camel in either is part of Allah’s decree.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5729)

This moment in history confirms a deeper truth — that destiny is not a rigid chain, but a divine system in which human beings are gifted with consciousness, choice, and will. The decisions made in the light of reason and faith are themselves threads in the fabric of destiny, woven by the hand of the All-Knowing.

The universe is not a chaotic assembly of moving parts, but a grand scripture of divine artistry. Every atom, every orbit, every heartbeat, and every demise is bound by an invisible order — an order ordained by the One who merely says “Be,” and it is. No entity rises or falls of its own accord; all follow paths precisely charted by divine will. As the Qur’an says:
“The sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.”
(Surah Ya Seen: 38)

Indeed, every creature, animate or inanimate, is subject to this inviolable law. Death awaits every living being; mortality is the shared destiny of all. This truth whispers through the leaves, echoes in the silence of tombs, and ultimately claims us all. Yet this universal fate unfolds neither prematurely nor belatedly — everything occurs at its appointed time, never a moment sooner, never a second later. This is what we call destiny.

But destiny raises an eternal question: Is it a script already written — our lives but performances on a stage? Or does our effort, intention, and prayer shape its outcome? Destiny, as understood through the lens of revelation, is a divine system encompassing all possibilities, yet it honors human action. Even the Qur’an affirms:
“And you cannot will unless Allah wills.”

Here lies the turning point — the moment where human pride surrenders, and true servitude begins. It is for this reason that the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) taught us to condition every intention and plan with the phrase, In Shā’ Allāh — “if Allah wills.” This is not a ritual utterance, but a declaration of spiritual humility and existential dependence.

Still, destiny and free will are not mutually exclusive. They are two branches of the same divine tree. Man has been given intellect and moral consciousness; he has been shown both the path of virtue and the path of vice. In this grand narrative of fate, there are pages left unwritten — left for us to inscribe with our choices.

And it is precisely here that du‘ā (supplication) enters as a powerful force. Prophetic traditions inform us that prayer can alter destiny. While the decree is written, it is not devoid of space for divine mercy to intervene in response to human yearning and action. The ink of fate includes the potential of change — a change that stems from heartfelt supplication, righteous deeds, and sincere repentance.

Thus, destiny is a celestial script, but God, in His infinite wisdom, has placed the pen of choice in human hands. We are not slaves of fate, but stewards of our own journey — empowered to ascend or fall, to build or break. This is where knowledge and philosophy, intellect and insight, planning and prayer — all converge upon a single truth:
“Nothing happens without the permission of Allah. Yet nothing truly blossoms without the mercy of Allah.”