Page 91 - Timelessness and the Reality of Fate

Relativity of Time and The Reality of Destiny 89

(Surat al-Fath: 27) and the victory of the Greeks over the pagans (Surat ar-
Rum: 3-4) were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him
and grant him peace) before they happened. The Prophet's (may Allah bless
him and grant him peace) sayings about the signs of the day of resurrection
and the end times (which were news of the unseen to people of that time)
show that Allah taught these things to him.
The Qur'an explains that news of the unseen is given to prophets and
some devout believers. For example, it was revealed to Joseph that the trap
set for him by his brothers will come to nothing (Surah Yusuf: 15), and to the
mother of Moses it was revealed that her son would escape the cruelty of
Pharaoh and become a prophet. (Surat al-Qasas: 7)
Finally, all that we call past and future is news of the unseen hidden in
the Sight of Allah. Allah gives some of this knowledge to the memories of
those He chooses, at a time He chooses, thus making them aware of some of
the unseen. The events which become visible and observable are character-
ized by human beings as being past events.

The Importance Of Submission To Destiny

The fact that past and future are already created in Allah's Sight, and
that everything has happened and is present at Allah's Sight, demonstrates a
very important truth. Everyone is in complete submission to his destiny. Just
as a person cannot change his past, so he cannot change his future, because,
like the past, the future has already happened. Everything in the future is
determined-when and where events will happen, what he will eat, who he
will talk to, what he will discuss, how much money he will earn, what dis-
eases he will get, and when, where and how he will die. All these things are
already in Allah's Sight and already experienced in His infinite memory. But
this knowledge is not yet in a person's memory.
Therefore, those who are sorry, upset, outraged and worried about the
future, are anxious in vain. The future they are so worried and anxious
about has already happened. And no matter what they do, they cannot
change these things.
At this point it is very important to point out that it is necessary to
avoid a mistaken understanding of destiny. Some people misunderstand
and think that what is in their destiny will happen anyway so there is noth-