The proper response to the question of whether there is need for duaa after everything has been decreed is, in the words of Ibn al-Qayyim, as follows: "The logical consequences of such a reasoning leads to a rejection of all efforts. It can, therefore, be said to a person who holds this view, If the satisfaction of your hunger and thirst has already been destined for you, then it will be fulfilled, whether you eat or not.
On the other hand, if it has not been destined for you, it will never occur, whether you eat or not. And, if a son has been destined for you, then you will be granted one, whether you have intercourse with your wife or not. On the other hand, if a son has not been destined for you, then you will never be granted one. In this case, there is no point in you getting married ...!"Now, will any sane person agree with all of these conch:rsions?" (AI-Jawab al-Kafi)
To summarise, then, Divine Decree (qadr) cannot be used as an excuse not to make duaa.
For, just as one strives to ensure that one attains worldly needs, of food, drink and family, so too must one strive in ones religious deeds to attain the desired goal. Duaa is intrinsically related to qadr; in fact, it is a part of ones qadr. Allaah has already decreed that a certain matter will be granted to a servant, or an evil averted from him, if he makes duaa, so if he were to leave duaa, then the desired goal would not be reached. Hence why it was the Sunnah of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) to make the following duaa during the witr prayer: "Bless me in what You have given me. And avert and turn away from me the evil that has been decreed for me, for verily You Decree (all things), and none can decree against You... ,," (Tirmidhi)
So the Muslim turns to Allaah and prays to Him so that any and all evil can be averted from him. Additionally, it should be remembered that the concept of Divine Decree is one that a human can never fully understand, due to his limited intellect and finite capabilities. The true Muslim does not delve too deeply into the philosophical ramifications of Divine Decree. Rather, he accepts all that has occurred to him in the past as having been destined for him, and he strives to obtain what be desires in the future (as long as it is permissible for him).
Since he does not know what has been written for him in the future, he expects the best from Allaah, and does everything in his power to ensure that what he wants is granted him. Just like going to work every day will ensure, if Allah wills, that he gets his pay cheque at the end of the month, so too does making duaa ensure, if Allaah wills, that he achieves his desired goal.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited