Question : Can du’a change qadr?
Answer:
[1] There is no doubt that the Divine Decree is eternal–beyond time–and therefore not subject to “change.”
[2] Du`a’ “changes” destiny in the relative sense: it is a means (like other means) towards the good, so it turns to flow of one’s life towards the good, by Divine facilitation, in accordance with the eternal Decree (qada’) of Allah.
[3] To understand this, one must appreciate that there are two types of decree (qada’):
(a) The absolute decree (al-qada’ al-mubram), which is what Allah willed in eternity. This isn’t subject to change, by definition; and
(b) The relative or conditional decree (al-qada’ al-mu`allaq), which is the direction in which the flow of life events seems to be going. This is what can change. This could be referred to as “apparent destiny.”
And Allah alone gives success.
