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God of destiny

It is 1244am and I have decided to write. It is the 27th night of Ramadan in Trinidad. It could be the night of power (laylatul qadr). Better than a thousand months. We are taught that on this night the destiny of all of creation is written for the next year. Everyone hopes for a year of success. Does that mean we can influence our destiny? I learnt two things from this question. There is a well-known prophetic tradition (hadith) stating that "nothing changes divine decree except dua"; And scholars often distinguish between Al-Qada al-Mubram (the ultimate, irrevocable decree) and Al-Qada al-Muallaq (the suspended decree). The latter is conditional—written as "If my servant does X, then Y will happen." How does destiny exist with free will? God can see the future but we cannot?

My friend Chatty says that knowledge does not equal compulsion. If a teacher knows a student will fail because of their habits, that knowledge did not cause the failure. It just perfectly understood what the student would freely do. God's knowledge is infinitely more precise—but the principle helps. So can you influence your destiny? Yes—but not in the way people usually think. You do not step outside destiny to change it. You participate in it. My dua tonight may be the very reason something changes tomorrow. And that dua itself was already part of what God knew and wrote. God knows our destination. That is a lot of D words so far. Divine, decree, dua, destiny and destination.

Perhaps the final D is the most important: Decision. Sitting here in the quiet of this 27th night, I realize that I am not just a character in a story already told, but a writer holding a pen lent to me by the Divine. If my destiny is a map, my dua is the compass that shifts the journey's course. We do not pray to change God's mind; we pray to activate the possibilities He has already placed within our reach. So, I will keep writing, and I will keep asking. Because if this is the night that is better than a thousand months, then my decision to seek Him tonight is not just a reaction to my fate—it is the very heartbeat of it. Dear God, guide my steps, bless my efforts, and make my destiny a path of goodness and closeness to You. I was thinking that another D word is dhikr (remembrance) and right after (as God is my witness) a youtube notification pops up for a video titled - the benefits of dhikr.

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