Can Dua Change Qadar?

What is the relationship between Dua (Supplication) and Qadar (Divine
Predestination)? Can Dua change Qadar?
Here's an answer from the scholars at IslamOnline.net:
Question:
Dear scholars, As-Salamu`alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. I know
that belief in the Qadar (Divine predestination) is a prerequisite for
sound faith. However, I'dlike to know if there is any conflict between
theQadar and Du`a'? How can the Du`a' influence one's Qadar, which is
already predetermined by Allah, Most High. Jazakum Allah Khairan.
Answer:
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be
upon His Messenger.
Dear brother in Islam, we really thank you for showing keenness on
learning the teachings of Islam, and we appreciate the great
confidence you have in us. We hope our efforts meet your expectations.
In Islam Du`a' is the essence of worship as stated in an authentic
Hadith. Qadar (Divine predestination) is a pillar of faith in Allah,
as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned when asked
byAngel Jibril (Gabriel), peacebe upon him, about Iman (faith),
saying: "It is to believe in Allah, His angels,His Books, His
Messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in Divine predestination,
both the good and the evil thereof."(Reported by Muslim)
The eminent Muslim scholar, Dr. `Atiyyah `A. Lashin, Professor of
Jurisprudence at Al-Azhar University, states:
"Qadar, or Divine predestination is of two kinds:
1. Unconditional predestination
2. Conditional predestination.
Du`a' has nothing to do with the first kind, while itmay change the
second one. This ruling is based on the Hadith that reads:"Nothing
could change theQadar except Du`a'."
(Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 5, Hadith no. 277; Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 3,
Hadith no. 139; and classified as Hasan (good) Hadith by Al-Abaani in
Sahih Al-Jami`, Hadith no. 7687)"
Shedding more light on this issue, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi , former
president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and member of
the Fiqh Council of North America, answers:
"Du`a' has great power; it can change many things. We should always
pray to Almighty Allah and should never give up hope in the acceptance
of Du`a'. Du`a' is the most important act of worship. It does not mean
that we or any other human or jinn have power, but it means that
Allah, the Almighty, has power and He can do whatever He wills. Du`a'
is the recognition and acknowledgement of our dependence upon Allah,
Most High, and our deep faith that He can change anything. There are
many verses in the Qur'an and many Hadiths that emphasize the
importanceand necessity of Du`a'. TheProphet, peace and blessings be
upon him, said, "Du`a' benefits in the things that have happened as
well as the things that have not happened yet. The calamity comes
down, but the Du`a' confronts itand they may continuously wrestle
until the Day of Resurrection." (Reported by Al-Hakim.)
In another Hadith, it is reported that the Prophet,peace and blessings
be upon him, said, "Nothing can change the Qadar except the Du`a'…"
This Hadith is reported by several authorities on Hadith, such as Imam
Ahmad, Ibn Hibban, Al-Hakim, and Ibn Majah… etc. Most of the scholars
ofHadith consider it an acceptable Hadith.
There is no contradiction between our faith in the power of Du`a' to
Allah and in our belief in the Qada' and Qadar of Allah. Scholars have
explained that there are two types of Qada' (Allah's Decrees):
a. those that are known asQada' Mubram (absolute decrees);
b. and those that are known as Qada' Mu`allaq (conditional decrees).
The absolute decrees do not change, but the conditional one may change
if and when the conditions are fulfilled. Such decrees are based on
the fulfillment of causes, as well as Du`a'. However, it is important
to keep in mind that every thing is inthe pre-existent knowledge of
Almighty Allah. The knowledge of Allah, Most High, does not change,
but the conditional decrees may change. Allah Almighty says in the
Qur'an: "Allah effaceth what He will, and establisheth (what He will),
and with Him is the source of ordinance." (Ar-Ra`d: 39)
Some people raise this question: if Allah Almightyknows the future and
His knowledge is always true, then things must happen according to His
knowledge. Then how can there be change and how can we say that we
have freedom? Actually, Muslim scholars have pointed out that
knowledge (`Ilm) is an illuminative, but not necessarily always an
effective, attribute. Allah the Almighty does know everything, but in
whatever areas He has given us freedom to act, we do act freely.