We go through the motion of life,
a day at a time;
days turning into weeks months and years,
and before we know it, a lifetime is gone.
Before I knew it half a life-time is gone
Of course, if God willed today, this moment,
can be the end of my life time!
Alas! the point is
life goes on
we are shaped, our lives are shaped,
by the choices we make.
But do WE make the choices?
or are the choices made for us?
aren’t they predefined, pre-written?
The thing called fate and destiny
are they real?
As a Muslim I am brought up to believe in a divine power.
The holy book Quran says the following on this matter:
Verily, We have created all things with Qadar [Divine Preordainments of all things before their creation, as written in the Book of Decrees Al-Lawh Al-Mahfûz].(Surat al-Qamar, 49)
So does that mean our spouses are not our choice
but in fact God’s?
Does that mean our friends are not our choice?
Does that mean we are good or bad, we are pious or lewd
not out of our choice
but by a predetermined force, or power?
Often times we try very hard to define our path
our future, it ending eventually in something else.
Often times we fancy someone and end up with someone else,
ironically this also of our choice (which in fact is in our destiny)
Often times we have different dreams in our eyes,
ending up in a different eventuality.
Often times we keep on dreaming, and before we know it
a lifetime is gone dreaming;
the dreams fade, disappointment, disillusionment
and indifference sets in.
Does this happen because of the choices we make?
Or is it just meant to be?
Maybe it’s enough to be able to dream? I’m not sure that seeking the truth makes us any happier.
Guess you are right.
Living in a dream world, in make believe fantasy, often times is much better. at least it helps sanity
but sometimes the truth we seek, without much of an effort on our side.
It happens during some points in our life … the need to know…
And those times creates havoc …
Though most of the religions teach about destiny and preordainment, I have not understood most of it. If everything is preordained there are a few advantages:
1. God, not, we, are responsible for the sins we commit (coz He had already decided it that way). Why should we be punished for the sin He had decided that we should commit? Confusing!
2. We need not worry about or plan for our future.
How/When does our freewill work? These are doubts that have been vexing me for long.
Thought-provoking verse.
very true Bindu. If it is all predetermined what are we here for?
The Quran also has other verses that we as humans are ordained to strive hard to make our life and hereafter a success.
And on a positive note, the verse about fate is mostly as an assurance when we feel things are going wrong. Another verse in the Quran states:
“Nothing can happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is Our Master. It is in Allah that the believers should put their trust.” (Surat at-Tawba, 51)
This comes as an encouragement when we feel all is lost, we feel disillusioned, defeated … we are asked to trust God almighty. to trust that things will eventually work out. we just have to be patient and submissive.
It still is confusing at times. but I guess we have to have faith, one way or the other
Choices we make… Yep, covers a lot of karmic outcomes.
It’s a bummer to think that no matter how much we weigh the plus and minus of any situation, we will end up choosing what had been destined
I think it’s both fate and the choices we make. In the end , I wish to believe, everyone gets their happy endings.
that’s a good way of thinking.
optimism no matter what