Du‘aa Changes Qadar

This phrase from the du‘aa Qunoot implies that Qadar can be changed by du‘aa and this is further
strengthened by the Prophet’s statement:

 “Nothing increases age except righteousness and nothing repels predestination except du‘aa. [2]

 It is possible that a certain misfortune has been decreed for a person, yet, because of the sincerity and
quality of his du‘aa, Allaah will repel that misfortune from him, and change this decree. Not only does
du‘aa repel a future misfortune that might befall a person, it also changes and removes a current
calamity and misfortune as indicated by the following hadeeth:

 Among the supplications of the Prophet (r) which he taught al-Hasan ibn ‘Alee to pray with in qunoot
of Witr was:   “Wa qinee sharra maa qadayt [Protect me from the evil which You have destined].”

 Full Text of this dua is: Al-Hasan ibn ‘Alee said: Allaah’s Messenger (r) taught me some words which I
say during Witr:

 O Allaah, guide me among those whom You guided, grant me security among those You grant security,
take me into Your charge among those You have taken into Your charge, bless me in what You have
given, guard me from the evil of what You have decreed, for You decree and nothing is decreed for
You.Whoever You have befriended is not humbled. Our Lord, You are blessed and exalted.” [1]

 Ibn ‘Umar quoted Allaah’s Messenger (r) as saying, “Whoever the door of du‘aa has been opened for,
then all the doors of mercy have been opened for him. And nothing asked of Allah is more pleasing to
Him than that He be asked for good health. Du‘aa is of benefit to matters that have occurred and that
are yet to occur. So I advise you, O servants of Allaah, to make du‘aa!” [3]

 Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned that there are three possibilities with regards to du‘aa and Qadar:

1) That the du‘aa is stronger than the Qadar and it repels it permanently.

2) That the Qadar is stronger and the du‘aa softens its impact.

3) That they are equal in strength so they cancel out each other. (ad-Daa wad-Dawaa, p. 42)

See the commentary in Tuhfatul-Ahwathee on Ibn ‘Umar’s narration for opinions regarding its meaning

  [Taken from "Radiance of Faith" By Dr.Bilal Philips ]

References : [1]. Sunan Abu Dawud, vol. 1, pp. 373-4, no. 1420, and Sunan Ibn-i-Majah, vol. 2, pp. 199-
200, no. 1178, and authenticated by Ahmad Shaakir in his footnotes on the Sunan at-Tirmithee and by
al-Albaanee in Saheeh Sunan Abee Daawood, vol. 1, p. 392, no. 1425 [new ed.].

 [2] (Sunan Ibn-I-Majah, vol. 1, p. 53, no. 90, and authenticated in Saheeh Sunan Ibn-i-Maajah, no. 73)

 [3](Collected by at-Tirmithee and rated inauthentic in Da'eef at-Targheeb, no. 1013 & Da'eef al-
Jaami‘, no. 5720)