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