The Issue of Destiny: Intellectual Confusion or Insight of Faith?
Article 65. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 
Belief in destiny is one of the foundations of Islamic faith.
Although this issue seems intricate and confusing to the human mind, in the light of divine revelation, the reality becomes clear that destiny is the name of Allah's perfect knowledge, not the negation of human choice. Understanding this intellectual balance is essential for the safety of faith.
Belief in destiny is obligatory. Although human imagination feels confused regarding the issue of destiny and many questions arise in the mind, one should have faith in divine destiny as it is a part of faith. Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "A person is not a believer until he believes in four things: he testifies that there is no god but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. Allah sent me with the truth, belief in death and resurrection after death, and belief in destiny" (Mishkat, Vol. 1, p. 22). Public Issues on the Issue of Destiny. p. 23.
What is destiny?
Destiny is actually the name of Allah Almighty's eternal knowledge, which scholars have called
"Al-Ilm al-Sabiq"
That is, the knowledge that Allah has before something happens.
Lexical meaning:
The lexical meanings of destiny are to estimate, determine the quantity, and decide something.
Technical meaning:
Destiny refers to Allah Almighty's eternal knowledge, decision, and prescribed system according to which everything in the universe, its existence, time, quantity, and quality are predetermined and written in the Preserved Tablet, the complete knowledge of which is only with Allah.
Allah Almighty, according to His ancient knowledge, created everything at a fixed time in a specific shape and form. He nurtured things to a certain extent and kept them, and when the time was up, He destroyed them.
Allama Raghib Isfahani (may Allah have mercy on him) explains the meaning of destiny as follows: 
Ban Yaj'alha Ala Miqdarin Makhsus Wa Wajhin Makhsus Hasbama Iqtadath Al-Hikmah
(Al-Mufradat p. 396) 
Allama Saaduddin Taftazani (may Allah have mercy on him) writes the meaning of destiny: Wa Huwa Tahdeed Kull Makhluq Bi Haddihi Alladhi Yujad Min Husn Wa Qubuh Wa Naf' Wa Darar Wa Ma Yahwihi Min Zaman Au Makan Wa Ma Yatratab Min Thawab Wa Aqab. (Sharh Aqaid p. 104)
Every creature, its beauty, ugliness, benefit, harm, its lifetime, its place, and its reward and punishment, the name of its fixed limit is its destiny; (Public Issues on the Issue of Destiny p. 15/16/Mufti Muhammad Tasadduq Hussain Sahib)
Types of Destiny:
Destiny Mubarram: The final and irreversible decision in which there is no change.
Destiny Muallaq: The decision that is conditional on prayer, deeds, and causes and can be changed by the command of Allah.
Allah Almighty is the Knower of the unseen,
Knowing what is in the hearts,
He knows what a person will choose with his will, choice, and freedom.
The important point is that Allah's knowledge does not cause human action, but rather human's free action is known to Allah in advance.
The basic difference between knowledge and compulsion
Man does not know what he will do tomorrow, where he will be, and what decision he will make at what moment,
But Allah knows-
Because His knowledge is not bound by time and space.
The Quran clarifies this fact as follows:
﴿إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ﴾
"Indeed, We have created everything with a measure (destiny)."
(Surat al-Qamar: 49)
Here, Qadar does not mean compulsion, but rather system, knowledge, and wisdom. وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٍ وَكَبِيرٍ مُسْتَطَرٌ. And every small and big thing is written. Surat al-Qamar, verse 53. وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ عِندَهُ بِمِقْدَارٍ. And everything with Him is by measure.
Surat ar-Ra'd, verse 8. وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ. And We have enumerated all things in a clear record. Surat Ya-Sin, verse 12. وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ. And there is not a thing fresh or dry, but is written in a clear record. Surat al-An'am, verse 59
وَلَا أَصْغَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَلَا أَكْبَرَ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ. And not [so much as] the weight of an atom upon the earth or in the heaven escapes Him. Not anything smaller than that or greater but is [written] in a clear record. Surat Yunus, verse 61. فَقَدَرْنَا فَنِعْمَ الْقَادِرون. Then We determined [it], and excellent [are We] to determine. Surat al-Mursalat 23.
To understand destiny, first understand a common sense effective intellectual example. 
Suppose that in today's world, a person shows magic or the art of prediction. He gives you a paper and says that you can write whatever you want on it with your will, choice, and consent. He gives you complete freedom without any pressure or hint.
On the other hand, that person keeps a separate paper with him, on which he has already written the same thing that you are going to choose later.
When you have written according to your will and then that person shows his paper, you are surprised how this is possible?
Although the truth is that: You wrote what you wrote, with your own will, he did not force you.
He only knew in advance what you would choose.
My dear brothers!
The name of this reality is destiny - the only difference is that here the knower is not an artist, but Allah is the Knower of the unseen, who has to run the whole system of the universe. Allah has made man autonomous, but since He knows which action man will choose with his freedom, He has written that knowledge with Him.
This writing does not eliminate human choice, but rather expresses Allah's perfect knowledge.
That is why it is said that Allah knows what you will do and what you will not do - but this knowledge does not force you. Man has been given choice - if man was forced, then: Command and prohibition would be meaningless.
The concept of sin would not remain. Reward and punishment would become injustice. The Quran clearly declares: ﴿فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِنْ وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ﴾ Whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve. Surat al-Kahf: 29
This verse is a definitive proof of human choice.
World: The Abode of Examination
This world is a testing ground, and the basic requirement of the test is that: Choice should be given.
Good and evil should be clarified. The result should appear after the action. The Quran says: ﴿الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا﴾
"[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving." Surat al-Mulk: 2. 
It should also be kept in mind that even if Allah knows the result of the examination, it is still necessary to have the examination, because the requirement of justice is that the decision should be made after the appearance of the action, not just on the basis of knowledge. Then the question that
; If the result was known, then why were we not sent straight to Paradise or Hell?.;
In fact, it is the result of not understanding divine justice. Allah Almighty has:
Given intellect
Given nature
Granted choice
And then sent approximately one hundred and twenty-four thousand prophets and messengers and finally sent the Seal of the Prophets Muhammad ﷺ so that man could be understood, shown the way, and all opportunities for success could be provided.
The Quran declares:
﴿لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ﴾
.; So that people will not have any argument against Allah after the messengers. Surat an-Nisa: 165; This is Allah's great favor and this is how His argument is fulfilled.
    (Summary)
Allah's knowledge is not compulsion,
Human action is by choice,
Destiny is the name of Allah's knowledge, not human's compulsion,
Reward and punishment are based on divine justice,
And Paradise and Hell are the logical consequences of human's own choice.
Therefore, the fault is not of the Lord of the universe, the fault is of human's insight-
Who did not understand even after finding the signs,
And kept his eyes closed even when the light was present.
Just as a bat cannot see the sun, it is not the sun's fault.
     ; Academic Note. ;
All the discussions, arguments, and points presented in this article have been taken by the writer from reliable religious sources after careful consideration, understanding, and research, including 
 Especially Mishkat Sharif, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Tafsir Mazhari, Sharh Aqaid, What is Destiny; Tadbir wa Taqdir, and Public Issues on the Issue of Destiny; have been taken with understanding and contemplation. The responsibility for the expression and style of writing rests entirely with the writer. If there is any error or deficiency anywhere, it is the result of the writer's understanding, not of the reliable sources.
May Allah grant us all the understanding of the truth and give us steadfastness on faith in destiny, Amen.
    By the pen of Mahmoodulbari
mahmoodulbari342@gmail.com