Actually, I think the title on the original syllabus was "Belief that God's Will controls all things for the best", which is just another way of dealing with the subject of this talk, but perhaps not as general as the title we have here. There were two bits in the file related to this subject, and the first clearly shows how few notes I've had time to prepare on occasion. The second, which is copied from a couple of hand-written pages, fortunately has slightly more content.
ISLAMIC OUTREACH - Lesson Eight
Belief in Divine Destiny.
First Clip
DIVINE DESTINY
Good or evil
No compulsion
Choose good or evil
Choose belief or not
Second Clip
Qadr - "power", "will"
Qadiriyyah - Free will
Jabr - "compulsion"
Jabiriyyah - predestination
a) All phenomena are 'willed', 'decreed' by God
b) God is Most Wise, Merciful, Compassionate and Loving
Therefore all is for man's own good.
God determines all phenomena and happenings
(Natural laws and details of falling leaf)
Personal events
Physical characteristics
weak / strong / intelligent / emotional
Life conditions and opportunities
Sufferings and good fortune
Our purpose
Ibadat - service / worship
Learning
Submitting
Why suffering?
a) building spiritual strength through patience
b) a warning and reminder of death and ageing
c) recompense for our sins in this life
No one can overcome God's Will
Adversity can prove a blessing
Somerset Maugham story
Qur'an 'Khidr' & Moses story
Qur'an - 'out of hardship comes ease'
effort makes muscles
Why make the effort?
Free Will
God determines what happens to us
We choose our reaction (& God knows it)
God does not change us
until we change ourselves
Improvement of our condition through ibadat
Serving God and accepting blessings