1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

10 Questions

Is Takdir or fate changeable? If so, how can we change our destiny?
Amina Inloes

It is really difficult for us human beings to know what aspects of fate are unchangeable and which are changeable as this knowledge belongs to Allah. However, hadith say that some unwanted things which are fated can be changed by prayer (du'a) or good acts (such as charity). God knows best.

Here are some thoughts on that: https://www.al-islam.org/ask/can-dua-change-your-taqdeer-and-fate
What is the situation of the souls of people who committed suicide? Will they be cursed as Allah chose their destiny as the All-Knowing and made them go through the situation that led them to commit suicide?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Committing suicide is a major sin in Islam because it comes as a result of losing hope in the mercy of Allah which is itself a major sin, and it is a crime of killing which is another major sin. Nevertheless, those who die during committing  major sins, remain Muslims and we must perform on their dead bodies all rituals which must perform on any Muslim who dies e.g. Ghusl of the dead body, Kafan and burial in Muslim grave yard.

Allah (SWT) knows what is their hearts and He deals with them. We pray for all the believers to get the Mercy of Allah (SWT).

Wassalam.
It has been claimed that illegitimate children can never enter heaven because they are destined to do something that will forbid them entry into paradise. Is this true?
Amina Inloes

Allah says in the Quran that no one will bear the burden of another. We are all responsible for our deeds.

It is not healthy to go through life with a sense of pre-destination that one will go to hell, because that can easily become a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

Sometimes some people are irresponsible when they talk about illegitimate children and either say things without thinking, or else they don't critically examine the texts they are talking about and quote them without thinking or comparing or examining them closely. It perhaps doesn't occur to them that some of the people sitting there listening are not of legitimate birth. There should be more responsibility in discussing these things so that people do not go around worrying they will go to hell because of what their forebears did. 
Can my Dua's change my already destined future such as my future husband?
Rebecca Masterton

In Usul al-Kafi Vol. 1 (available from WOFIS in Iran), Imam 'Ali (as) explains that the decree is not finalised until the actual moment that it is brought into existence. Up until that time, there is room for the decree to be changed, or withheld. It is a key teaching from the Ahl al-Bayt (as) that you can have a living and dynamic relationship with Allah (swt) and that du'a, as well as other actions, can alter what is decreed. I know of the expression in the Middle East where they say 'the name of your spouse is written on your forehead', which sounds like an unchangeable destiny, but through du'a you may change that name.