In psychology, there are two types of people who perceive the source of control in their lives differently. Those with an external locus of control believe the consequences in their lives are due to fate or chance. Meanwhile, those with an internal locus of control believe that their actions determine their lives, much like how for every action there is a reaction.

On the other hand, Islamic psychology considers matters not only from the physical world but also from a spiritual perspective. A famous Muslim scholar once said, “خير الامور اوسطها”. This translates to: “The best of matters is the middle path,” or it can also be translated as, “The best of affairs is the moderate one.” This scholar is Imam Hasan Al-Basri, a highly respected figure of his time, whom people sought for legal rulings. With this quote in mind and considering his role, his intention behind the saying was to promote fairness and justice.

Combining these two thoughts, in order to be just with ourselves and others, we can say that the source of control is a combination of both our actions and fate itself.

This is where the leap of faith plays a role.

One has to plan and act for an uncertain future. When making decisions, they should trust their experience and efforts while also trusting in God and His mercy. If the results turn out in one’s favor, then they should celebrate their efforts and thank their Lord for helping them reach such goals. If the results don’t turn out favorably, that doesn’t mean their effort was in vain. The unfavorable results mean that the experience gained from their hard work will be used in a better way than one could possibly imagine.

The leap of faith is having faith in God’s judgment and in one’s hard work.