Is Our Fate Predetermined/Known to God?

Question

Is fate regarding a person ending in Heaven or Hell decided by Al-Mighty before his birth?

If it is decided or God already knows it then how much authority does a person have on his life? For example, a person may try to be very good Muslim but it may already have been decided that he is going to end up in Hell!

Then, why is man being tested by God when He already knows his end?

Response

Man has freedom of choice and action in a limited sphere of circle. There are definitely circumstances brought upon man as a test by God. Those who are born rich and those who are born poor are so as a part of their test in this life. However, it is also the same man who, given those circumstances, decides how to behave and what actions to take. It is in taking these actions that the man is being tested by the Almighty. For instance, consider the following verse:

وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الْضُّرُّ فِي الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاكُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ أَعْرَضْتُمْ وَكَانَ الإِنْسَانُ كَفُورًا * أَفَأَمِنتُمْ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمْ جَانِبَ الْبَرِّ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ثُمَّ لاَ تَجِدُواْ لَكُمْ وَكِيلاً * أَمْ أَمِنتُمْ أَن يُعِيدَكُمْ فِيهِ تَارَةً أُخْرَى فَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَاصِفا مِّنَ الرِّيحِ فَيُغْرِقَكُم بِمَا كَفَرْتُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ تَجِدُواْ لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا بِهِ تَبِيعًا

And when distress afflicts you in the sea, those whom you call disappear except Him; and when He brings you safe to the land, you turn away (from Him); and man is very ungrateful. Then do you feel secure that He will not cause you to be swallowed up under the earth when you are in land or send on you a tornado? Then you shall not find a protector for yourselves. Or, do you feel secure that He will (not) take you back into it 1 another time, then send on you a hurricane of wind and thus drown you for your ungratefulness? Then you shall not find any helper against Us in the matter. (Quran 17:67-69)

The phrase "that He will (not) take you back into it" clearly reveal that He could send the addressees of this verse into a similar situation once again and it would not at all be difficult for Him.

Secondly, God, being Omniscient, has knowledge of everything including our future. However, this does not imply that God has not given that limited control to man for taking actions. Consequently, we will definitely be held responsible for the choices we make under given circumstances.

وَاتَّقُواْ يَوْمًا تُرْجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى اللّهِ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ

And fear the Day when you shall be brought back to Allah. Then shall every soul be paid what it earned, and none shall be dealt with unjustly. (Quran 2:281)

It is addressed very clearly that God will settle accounts in a very just manner and every human being will earn Paradise or Fire in the Hereafter based on the actions that he took in this world.

1 i.e. the sea.