Don't be Sad, Allah is with us

In the Qur’an Allah says,

“…This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.” [5:3]

Allah tells us that he has done us a favor; Allah has given us something, a gift that many people do not have.  Sometimes we don’t realize what blessing we have, what kind of gift we hold in our hands and hearts, a gift that no one can take away from us.

“And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty.”  [22:78]

Allah says that He, subhana wa ta’ala has chosen us, He has CHOSEN US. We have been chosen. Allah says in another verse in the Qur’an, that the angels are chosen to do certain duties, the messengers are chosen, and just like that we are chosen as well.

Usually if you are looking to get hired for a job or a high-end position, you don’t just apply and get it. If you get it, there were probably other candidates and you become the one that was chosen because of your qualifications that set you apart from the rest. To those of us that are Muslim, Allah chose us for this job, for this responsibility. We have been given a huge blessing. Sometimes we tend to wonder what we did to deserve such an honorable thing, such a gift, or do we even have the qualifications to uphold this job and honor, but Allah says…that he CHOSE us. Allah sees potential in us that even we might not even realize ourselves. There is potential of good inside all of us, its just us who have to tap into that and use that to make good changes and leave an impact that will be beneficial to the Ummah.

This religion gives us a profound purpose. Islam gives meaning to life. You see people today just walking around doing the same old routine- hanging out with friends, school, career, relationships, break ups, parties, night clubs, drinkning, “having fun”- yet how satisfying is it really? How happy are the celebrities on TV? How happy are the people that live life like this? Do they sleep contented; do they feel full? Usually the answer is no. Why? Because that’s not what we were here for to begin with. “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” [51:58]

In a recent discussion, Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan discussed the difference of mindsets from two different angles: the non-Muslim angle and then the Muslim perspective. In the first cast scenario, Ustadh Nouman described a man that he knew who was writing his thesis for psychology as part of his post-doctorate at NYU. He was a very smart fellow and he had been working on this thesis for over five years. This thesis and working on it had become his life. He was typing it out, and did not have it backed up like we do things now a days, and did not have any other copy except the one that he was typing out. The day he turned the copy in, was the day that he was giving away his only copy of his years and years worth of work and effort. What happened to that thesis? The department ended up losing the thesis and the guy who had spent so much time on this thing, fell over the edge. He became mentally unstable. Ustadh Nouman was saying that years and years later, even when the man had become old, he could be found on campus every once in awhile going around warning people to not trust the department etc etc. Because that thing had become his life, when he lost his thesis, it shook him so much that it changed his mental condition.

On the flip side, Ustadh Nouman told the story of another man that he knew who was a Muslim. This Muslim brother owned a car dealership and sold luxury cars. They mashAllah used to make about 100-200,000 dollars just in profit from their business. However, there was a flood that hit and the entire dealership and the cars were destroyed over night due to the flood. The man overnight lost everything that he had except for his own car. Now, the brother delivers pizza in his luxury Lexus car that was still his and feeds his family that way. Even though he lost his wealth over night, him and his family are living content, and still counting the blessings of Allah. This is what Islam does. It changes your perspective. It makes you realize that nothing in this world is your destination or goal.

At the end of the day, even if you have nothing, you have Islam.  Allah gives and takes but no one can take away Allah from your heart. Because Taqwa isn’t materialistic. Taqwa isn’t physical. It’s in the heart. It’s something no one can snatch from you. Even if you are to lose everything in this world, you still have something that is more valuable than any thing that can be named: Islam.

And this realization itself helps us navigate through all the bumps and roadblocks in our life. No matter what difficulty you may be facing, no matter what sticky or low phase you may be in, realize that through Islam, you have submitted to the one that will never abandon you, never leave you. Everything is to prepare you for something greater.

In the Qur’an, Allah tells the narrative of Musa, alayhisalam in many different place but in one instance, after Allah tells Musa (as) the different things and tests that he went through- him being put down the river, returning back to his mother, him accidently killing someone, the tests he faced after that period- Allah tells Musa (as): “…Then you came [here] at the decreed time, O Moses. And I produced you for Myself.” [20:40-41] Allah flashes Musa’s life before him, letting him know that Allah was always there, Allah was always watching and tells Musa (as) that all of that was for Him, all the tests and difficulties that he had faced were to prepare him for that meeting with Allah. Reading this passage brings a sense of comfort, that just like Musa (as), Allah has always watched over us, been there as we face different phases of our life, and every thing we go through is a preparation for us to return back to Allah and meet him in the hereafter.

We are never alone; we can never feel abandoned. When Musa (as) was standing with his people with the sea in front of him and Pharoh and his soldiers coming up behind him, and Musa’s companions are getting afraid, scared that they’re about to face their end, that all doors are shut, Musa (as) remains firm: [Moses] said, "No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.” [26:62] And we know that he is asked to strike his staff and the sea parts and they are saved. Allah also tells us in the Qur’an that “And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein.” [50:16] Allah lets us know how close His presence is…closer to us than a major vein of body that if harmed, our existence would be put in jeopardy. Allah is even closer to us that that. Allah knows us better than we know ourselves, Allah is the all-hearing, all-seeing, the just, the loving, the giver of all things, that one who answers the call of his slaves. Allah never abandons us, Allah never withholds anything except to give much greater. Allah plan is the best of plans. We never face a struggle that we are completely alone in…Allah knows the difficulty, Allah knows what we go through and lets us know how near he is to us in Surah Baqarah: “And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” [2:186] 

This world with everything in it…it’s a means and a journey to something greater: a place where phases don’t exist, a place where pain doesn’t exist, a place where nothing is lost and nothing ends. We were made in Jannah, we were made for Jannah and that’s what we are striving to get back to. This place is tempory and the bargain that Allah asks for is so so simple. For a little while, do good, submit to Allah, pray, develop a relationship with Allah, get through the rough patches, be grateful in the good & the tough times and then for those that are sincere and submit to Allah…for them is a reward that is eternal. How does something temporary even compare to the bargain that Allah is making? We just have to get through this test. Jannah is not free, its not just handed down. We have to live like Muslims with sincerity to attain Jannah.

“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said,"When is the help of Allah ?" Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.”  [2:214]

 In the Qur’an, Allah makes comparisons of the things in Jannah to the things of this world. We are familiar with cars in this world, there will be cars in Jannah but better, beyond our imagination. There are fruits and food here, there will be fruits and food there but better, beyond our imagination. There are houses and mansions here, there will be mansions in Jannah, but better beyond our imagination. The whole list of things that you remembered above, it will be in Jannah but way way way better.

“For those who do good in this world is good; and the home of the Hereafter is better”. [16:30]

Life is a beautiful struggle. Hold the dunya, hold this world in your hand. Don’t let it delude you or throw you off course. & Keep the Akhirah in your heart. Yearn & strive for that meeting of Allah and that paradise that awaits the believers! In the end, it will all be worth it.