Knowing that Allāh has destined everything for everyone, i.e, Qadr, people still ask as to how do we have a choice when everything is destined?

If anything that happens to us, we say that it was destined (Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioun) and when good happens than we say Alhamdulillah. Please comment.

Because Allāh knows and we don’t. Allāh knows what is destined and we don’t.

Suppose I have an exam tomorrow and I already know that I am going to fail it, then I know that if I do it right or wrong, I already know what the result is going to be. Alternatively, if I do not know what the result is going to be then I ought to make the best effort to get the best result. That is the easiest answer. Allāh knows and we don’t.

Because we don’t know what is in store for us. I consider it to be a rahma (mercy) from Allāh, that we don’t know the ghaib (future). Imagine how difficult and boring our life would have been if we knew every moment of our life? So there is nothing to live for. If I know what is already happening tomorrow, then why live for it? But if I don’t know then that challenge is still there to accomplish something.

That’s why we plan something and do things, but when the time eventually comes, we still cannot do the things we planned all along. As Prophet (ﷺ) says that if something bad befalls a person or something good happens to him, kullahu khair both sides are benefiting him. It is a win-win situation. When hardship befalls him, he has patience and when good befalls him, he gives shukr or thanks.

“Amazing is the affair of the believer, verily all of his affair is good and this is not for no one except the believer. If something of good/happiness befalls him he is grateful and that is good for him. If something of harm befalls him he is patient and that is good for him” [1]

It is a win-win situation.

And Allāh knows best.

Reference:

[1] Saheeh Muslim: 2999