Re: Kismat / Entrapment - I mostly agree
First off, a very good thread after a long time. Indeed, there is no such thing as predistination, else we would not be accountable for our actions. Most of this qismat element comes from Semitic, Mesopotamian and Indian belief systems and are actually alien to Islam. And it does not end there:
Collectivity is still required...
How nations choose to perish
17:16 (Here is the Divine Law of Requital for nations.) We let the leaders of a nation commit corruption, drift out of discipline and consider themselves above Law. Then Our Law annihilates them completely. (And the leaders and the public are left blaming one another 7:38, 10:28, 14:21, 16:86).
22:45 And how many a township have We (Our Law of Requital) annihilated, for they oppressed people and violated human rights! And now they lie deserted, with their roofs caved in! And how many a well lies abandoned, and how many a castle in ruins that once stood high!
21:11 Our Law of Requital has dashed into fragments many nations because of their unjust systems and We replaced them with other people.
22:48 (“As you sow, so shall you reap”, is a rock-solid Law, as evidenced by the history of the rise and fall of nations.) How many communities have gone before whom I gave respite although they were transgressors, but then My Law of Requital seized them. For with Me is the end of all journeys.
28:58 And how many a town We annihilated, which exulted in their life of ease and plenty! Such that most of their dwelling places have remain deserted after them. For it is indeed We alone Who shall remain when all else have passed away!
34:34 Whenever We sent a Warner to any community its rich elite declared, “Behold, we reject the message you are sent with.”
16:112 Allah gives you an example. Think of a township that used to be secure and prosperous, with provision coming to it in plenty from all directions. But, they practically denied Allah's blessings by not sharing them with the needy. So Allah’s Law made it experience the garb of hunger and fear for their wrong system. (6:44).
43:23 Thus it is. Whenever We sent, before you, a Warner to a community, its luxurious ones said, "Behold, We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we are following their footprints."
65:8 And how many a community has rebelled against the Command of its Lord and His Messengers! Hence, We called each to account with a stern accounting and punished it with an exemplary punishment.
22:46 Have they never journeyed about the earth, letting their hearts gain wisdom, and causing their ears to hear? Indeed, it is not their eyes that become blind, but blind become their hearts that are in the breasts.
6:123 This is how We allow the greatest ones in every community to become its greatest criminals, to weave their schemes. Yet it is only against themselves that they scheme without even knowing it.
7:3-4 O People! Follow what has been sent to you from your Lord and follow no masters other than Him. How seldom do you keep this in mind! (You will find ample documentation in history that when communities ignored Our Permanent Value System they met with destruction.) How many a community Our Law of Requital has annihilated! Our Requital visited them by night, or while they slept at noon.
15:4 And Our Law of Requital annihilated no community or township before the period of respite was over (13:38).
When does Du'a work
31:32 And so, when violent waves surround them like shadows of gloom, they call unto Allah, sincere in their faith in Him (and work according to Divine Laws). But as soon as We save them ashore, some of them compromise (with falsehood). Yet none could knowingly reject Our Messages unless he is a betrayer to his own “Self”, ungrateful for such blessing.
As you can see, Dua's will ONLY work when there are no more ways we can resolve the issue our selves. A Dua will ONLY work when there are no other options left for us by which we can solve it. God has given us sufficient means to resolve almost anything ourselves. This can be seen by this verse:
4:97 As for those who wrong their own “Self” by not striving until the angels (the Universal Laws of death) approach them, they are asked, “What kept you occupied?” They say, “We were weak and oppressed in the land.” The angels say, “ Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to migrate?” As for such, their habitation will be Hell, a miserable destination.
God did not accept their Du'a because they were not reflected in their actions. The effort was ill-directed. He already gave the means to solve it themselves. Their excuse is that they were weak and surpressed, but they are confronted that God gave them the possibility to migrate, because they did not make use of this possibility, their excuse is not accepted. People pray to God for help while ignoring the help He already gave them, this is a gross offense to God and all the blessings He already gave us.
So you see we can't say we must pray more, or that fate is predestined? It is in a certain way, but it is along the lines "Do good and you will prosper - Do evil and perish".
People think that God will answer those prayers while He gave us enough possibilities to solve them ourselves? You ask him food while He gave you the land to grow them yourselves? You ask peace while we only need to lay down our weapons? God will not help when He has given enough possibilities already to resolve it ourselves, it is time mankind will understand this. We have the means to create peace already, because we will not accept these possibilities God will not give us more. We want to create the best society? Then we must work for it and make use of the possibilities God already gave us. Prayer will only help when there are no more options left, and we are far from no more options, we still have millions of unused options.
chalo koi bat nahi 
I hope someone else can answer this so I can learn too.