Page 46 - Faith: The Way to Happiness

FAITH: THE WAY TO HAPPINESS

created everything in accordance with its fate in the verse, "We have
created all things according to a fixed decree." (Surat al-Qamar: 49)
Because throughout his life a person is confronted with the events
which Allah wishes and desires for him, he lives his life entirely as
Allah wishes. Allah reminds us of this in the Qur'an:
Everything they did is in the Books. Everything is recorded,
big or small. (Surat al-Qamar: 52-53)
As Allah informs us in this verse, all people live their lives
under His control and His command. In another verse, Allah uses
these words to tell us that all people live according to the fate which
He has determined for them:
You did not kill them; it was Allah Who killed them; and
you did not throw, when you threw; it was Allah Who
threw: so He might test the believers with this excellent
trial from Him. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Surat
al-Anfal: 17)
So it is impossible for a person to do what he wants, change or
escape from his fate. People's fates, which include everything they
encounter and their every reaction to these things, are ordained by
Allah. Allah informs us of this fact in the verse, "... Allah's com-
mand is a pre-ordained decree." (Surat al-Ahzab: 38) Because of this
everybody is inescapably bound to their fate. All living beings, in-
cluding mankind, live their lives according to the fate pre d e t e r-
mined by Allah.
What we have explained plays a very important role in people's
ability to be happy and in their achieving a balanced spiritual state
in which they can behave comfortably and easily under all circum-
stances. In order to see more clearly the comfort and ease which sub-
mission to fate gives a person, let us compare the reactions to an

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