Destiny can still change. Destiny has been determined, but the yearly details are determined on the night of Laylat al-Qadr. The Quran states that on that night all matters are explained with wisdom.

Bogor, West Java (Indonesia Window) – Every human being's destiny is determined when they are 120 days in the womb. An angel is sent to blow their soul and record four things: their deeds, their sustenance, their death, and whether they would be happy or miserable and all of this is predetermined by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala (ﷻ).

Provision is not only about money, as it can include health, a pious spouse, pious children, a lawful job, and various other blessings.

Rich or poor is not our choice; it is the will of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala (ﷻ). Our duty is to strive, said Syaikh Ishom Aini, Lc., M.A., during a study session under the theme ‘How to change destiny on the night of Laylat al-Qadr’ at the Nurul Wathon Grand Mosque in Indonesia’s Cibinong Sub-district, Bogor District, West Java Province on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

"Death has also been determined. The average lifespan of followers of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is between 60 and 70 years. Therefore, we are commanded to remember death frequently," Syaikh Ishom said.

Furthermore, the end of life, whether it would be a good end or a bad end, has also been determined. But the question is: can destiny still be changed?" asked the syaikh.

"The answer is yes. Destiny has been determined, but the yearly details are determined on the night of Laylat al-Qadr. The Quran states that on that night all matters are explained with wisdom. Scholars of tafsir (interpretation) explain that details regarding sustenance, death, and various other decrees for the coming year are determined on that night," he explained.

This is one of the wisdoms behind why Allah ﷻ has made our prayers answered during Ramadan. Destiny can be changed through two things: maximum effort and prayer, he noted.

Allah ﷻ says that He will not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition, and if we have been committing sins, evaluate the cause.

"If it's due to our environment, improve our relationships with others. If it's due to unlawful activities, abandon them or seek a lawful solution. If it's due to religious ignorance, then learn the religioun (Islam)," the syaikh said.

According to Syaikh Ishom, many deviations occur due to a lack of religious literacy, fanaticism towards figures without justification, enthusiasm for good deeds without knowledge, or cultural syncretism that is not in accordance with Islamic law. The solution is to properly study the Quran and Sunnah (everything that comes from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ).

"In household matters, no household is without problems. Even the companions of the prophet experienced them. Don't easily consider divorce unless your religion is truly threatened. The purpose of marriage is to safeguard your religion and honor," he said.

In matters of sustenance, don't overly impose your lifestyle. Many problems arise from pride. Sustenance is determined by Allah ﷻ, he said, adding that it is our duty to strive honestly, expand our relationships with others, and maintain integrity.

"Our time is short. Allah ﷻ swears by time that mankind is in loss except those who believe in Him, do righteous deeds, and advise one another to truth and patience. Our worth is not in wealth, position, or social status, but in faith and piety," he said.

If we have difficulty accepting advice, considering what is good as evil and vice versa, this could be a warning sign for the end of our lives. Therefore, use Ramadan to improve ourselves and increase our prayers, he added.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that nothing can ward off destiny except prayers. Take advantage of the most effective times: during fasting, when breaking the fast, between the call to prayer and the iqamah, while prostrating, before the greetings, on Fridays, while traveling, and in the last third of the night when Allah ﷻ descends to the world and offers forgiveness and answers prayers, the syaikh reminded.

"Ask Allah ﷻ to make it easy to obey, to be kept away from sin, to be given good health, to have a lawful livelihood, to have good partners, and to have a good ending. Don't rely solely on your own wits and strength. Humans are weak. Our worth lies in our faith and piety," he added.

"If we want change after Ramadan, do two things: maximum effort and earnest prayer. Hopefully when the details of destiny are determined in Laylatul Qadar, the change is expected to be in accordance with our hopes and requests to Allah," he said.

Ramadan is a very special month

Syaikh Ishom further reminded that Ramadan is a very special month, a very glorious month, and a month that is eagerly awaited by pious salafus, who make this holy month a moment to increase worship, read the Quran, carry out qiyamullail and other pious deeds.

Our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that when the first night of Ramadan arrives, all the devils and mischievous jinn are chained, all the gates of heaven are opened and none are closed, and all the gates of hell are closed and none are opened, he said.

"There is a call from the sky, 'O you who want to do good, do it. O you who want to do evil, stop or reduce it.' And Allah ﷻ has servants who are freed from the fire of hell every night of Ramadan," he said.

Therefore, the salafus saleh (pious predecessors) made Ramadan a moment of life change, making it better and more valuable in the sight of Allah ﷻ, as the purpose of fasting is one: la'allakum tattaqun—so that you become pious, he explained.

If in this holy month we carry out the commands, avoid prohibitions, and do not invent anything in religion, God willing, pious individuals are expected to emerge, even though we may have previously been sinners, the syaikh added.

Among the privileges of fasting in Ramadan, Allah ﷻ places people who fast in a state of prayer (whose prayers are granted). Rasulullah ﷺ said that there are three prayers that cannot be rejected: the prayer of the fasting person, the prayer of the oppressed person, and the prayer of the traveler, he said.

Why do people who fast have granted prayers? Because of two things. First, quality fasting makes prayer possible for the practitioner. However, not everyone who fasts gets this priority, he said.

 “Rasulullah ﷺ (the messenger of Allah ﷻ) said, 'Many people fast, but what they get is only hunger and thirst. Many people pray at midnight (qiyamullail), but what they get is only staying up late. This means that only fasting according to the guidance of the prophet ﷺ brings these privileges," he said.

Second, because the routine of worship in the month of Ramadan, both obligatory and Sunnah (not mandatory), makes a servant closer to Allah ﷻ so that Allah ﷻ loves him, he added.

In the hadith qudsi (revelation of Allah ﷻ conveyed by the prophet ﷺ with his own words which are not from the Quran), it is stated that a servant continues to draw closer to Allah through voluntary worship until Allah loves him.

If Allah loves him, He will guide his or her hearing, sight, hands, and feet to be used only for obedience to Allah ﷻ. And when he or she asks, Allah answers; when he or she asks for protection, Allah protects him or her. This is the condition of answered prayer, the syaikh explained.

"So what can we benefit from this answered prayer? This is to change our destiny," Syaikh Ishom said.

Reporting by Indonesia Window