Wisdom 16
Human Planning and Divine Decree
Imam Ali (A.S.) said:
“Affairs submit to Divine decrees, to the extent that one’s death may lie within one’s own planning.”
Keywords
Submit (تَذِلُّ): To yield, become subject to, surrender, or be overpowered.
Divine Decrees (الْمَقَادِير): Divine destiny, decree, and predestination.
Death (الْحَتْف): Destruction, demise, or death.
Summary of Wisdom 16
Human planning can never stand as an obstacle before Divine destiny. At times, God’s decree overturns every human strategy. Imam Ali (A.S.) teaches that all events ultimately submit to the Divine will. What ultimately occurs is what Allah wills—not necessarily what people intend or carefully plan. In some cases, the very plans that individuals believe will ensure their success or safety become the means of their destruction or death.
Commentary
1. Everything Happens by the Will of Allah
All destinies are in the hands of Allah. Everything that occurs in the universe takes place only by His permission, power, and will. As expressed in the famous phrase:
“There is no power nor strength except through Allah.”
Human intention and planning become effective only when they coincide with Divine will.
The Quraysh exerted every effort to prevent the message of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH & His Family) from spreading beyond Makkah. They even planned to assassinate him during the night. Yet Allah decreed otherwise. By Divine planning, the Prophet safely departed during the Night of Migration (Laylat al-Mabit), migrated to Madinah, and this migration became the beginning of the worldwide spread of Islam.
2. Always Say “If Allah Wills”
Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:
“And never say of anything, ‘Indeed, I will do that tomorrow,’ except by saying, ‘If Allah wills.'” (Qur’an 18:23–24)
This verse teaches believers that although human beings possess free will and are responsible for their actions, they should never imagine themselves independent of Allah. Every action ultimately depends upon His permission, care, and decree.
Practical Lessons
- Since all destinies are in the hands of Allah, there is no reason for excessive anxiety. Once we have chosen the right path through careful thought and planning, we should entrust the outcome to Allah and ask Him to bless our efforts with the best results.
- We should not blame one another for events that ultimately occur by Divine decree. Statements such as “If only you had done this…” or “Had he not bought that car, he would still be alive today” often ignore the reality of Allah’s decree.
- However, this should not become an excuse to avoid personal responsibility. Many undesirable outcomes are the direct result of human negligence or poor choices. For example, operating dangerous equipment without proper knowledge and thereby causing harm cannot simply be attributed to Divine destiny. Individuals remain accountable for their own actions.
- One of the moments in which a believer most clearly remembers Allah is when every apparent plan has been carefully arranged, yet events unfold contrary to personal expectations. Such experiences remind us that absolute control belongs to Allah alone.
Self-Assessment
- Under what condition do human will and planning become effective and come to fruition?
- Which belief helps remove anxiety, and how does it bring peace of mind?
About the Publisher
Home Page: Quran and Nahj al-Balagha Institute
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Series: The Illuminated Path: Commentary on the Wisdoms of Nahj al-Balagha – Wisdom 16