Please explain to me about the Islamic viewpoint of destiny (Taqdeer).Does it depend on your actions ? Is your future already decided by Allah ? Please advise... Jazakallah

Taqdeer is part of Imaan. It is our belief that everything occurs through the will of Allah Ta'ala and that Allah Ta'ala has the total knowledge of what is going to happen. Allah Ta'ala is the Khaaliq (Creator) of actions and man is the Kaasib (earner) of the actions. Allah Ta'ala created all actions, be it evil or good, and then gave man the choice to choose one of the two.

In the Hadith, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) mentioned, 'There is no person from amongst you except that Allah Ta'ala has written (destined) his abode in Jahannam and his abode in Jannah.' They (Sahaaba) asked, 'O' Rasulullah, should we not put our trust on our books, i.e. what has been written for us. And leave out doing actions.' Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) replied, 'Carry on doing actions. Everything will be made easy for what it has been created for. As for those who are from the fortunate one's, then the actions of the fortunate one's will be made easy for him and as for those who are from the deprived one's, the actions of the deprived ones will be made easy for him.' Then, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) recited the Aayaat, 'As for those who give (Sadaqah) and adopted God-fear, we will make smooth for him the path of ease.' (Mishkaat pg.20; Qadeemi)

Belief in Taqdeer should not spur a person to do evil actions, for example, a person making excuse of Taqdeer says, 'I will just sit and what Taqdeer is written for me will occur. I am not going to do anything.'

This is totally contrary to the teachings of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). Rather, a person should adopt the plan and means to do something. Thereafter, after the action has been done, the belief of Taqdeer comes in, that whatever happened was through the will of Allah. (Islaahi Khutubaat; Mufti Muhammad Taqi vol.7 pg.207)

In brief, Taqdeer refers to the Absolute knowledge of Allah Ta'ala of everything even before its existence. Since the knowledge of Allah is perfect, everything will take place exactly according to His knowledge, but in the case of human deeds, through the choice of the individual.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai