The crab story

Patience is indeed one of the most beautiful lessons of life.

That day, as I stood at the beach shores and watched the waters hit the sand, I saw a tiny crab try its best to come out of its hole...everytime it would make an effort to come out, the waters would gush forth, leaving it to sink inside.I stared at this tiny little thing for a while...seconds passed, minutes passed, but this little creature of Allah did not give up.At every safe moment, at the relapse of the beach waters, the crab would pop its head out again to make its way out.

I wondered what is the tiny lil thing seeking.

And then it hit me hard.

As much as I watched it struggle and feel the need to help it out, I sat back silently, watching. Why?
As much as I appreciated its efforts, I wanted it to make its own way out of the hole.Why?
As much as I despised the cruel waters, I appreciated it.Why?

Well, for a lil crab, I'm a Giant.
But ain't for a lil me, Allah the Sustainer?

He watched me silently, as I struggle through the ocean of life but in the end, this water is not meant to drown us, instead it is to cleanse us and help us come out of our "holes" with truly deserved hard earned success.

Trust Allah and appreciate the cruel waters.
Believe in the power of Dua and what you will get is what you needed.
Imbibe the art of patience in every climbing of life.
Seek the love of Allah in being patient.

After all, this Dunya is nothing but testing waters of your faith. So ace it :)

A Humbling Experience

Tonight was special.
Tonight Allah gave me a chance to witness poverty.
Tonight Allah showed me what it means to feel "REAL" hunger.
Tonight Allah taught me the value of being grateful for the blessing of being taken care of by my parents.
Tonight Allah showed me how it is to feel the warmth of another human being.

Tonight I realized,

I may not have everything, but everything I have keeps me Happy.
I may not say everything, but anything I say speaks of Gratitude.
I may not have food to eat, but every time I eat, gives me Hope for another day to live.
I may not understand your problems, but in my eyes, you can see the Beauty of living life without complaints.
I am not you, but you are Me.

#Indeed, one of the most humbling experience to share the streets with these beautiful people of peace.
May Allah SWT reward all the silent soldiers of I Can Feed The Poor campaign. The Prophet (SAWS) would be sooooo proud of you if he was here with us today! Keep going, by Allah!

Tonight, I realised how poor I am.

 

Clue

If you see that your heart is becoming hard and your body is becoming weak and your provision is decreasing, know that you are involved in that which doesn’t concern you.

-Malik ibn Dinar

Expecting the Best from Allah

“In accordance with how good your expectations of and hope in Allah are and how truthful your reliance and trust are in Him, Allah will not betray your hopes in the least, as He does not betray the hopes of those who hope and does not cause any effort to go to waste.” 

-Abu Muhammad

The Walk of Faith

For most of us, walking through the bridge located in the center of UIA has been a routine activity. It’s beautiful how the petite bridge connects the two parts of UIA. Many a times as I walk along the bridge, I often appreciate how pleasurable the walk is and how by the time I realize, I’m already at the other end of the bridge. Sometimes, a beautiful fountain springs into life and adds a nice cooling touch to the overall saunter. It’s splendid as to how the bridge is surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery around- the river beneath, the exquisite masjid in front, the towering mountains from behind and the happy blue sky above. Indeed how picturesque.

And then one fine day as I walk through the very same bridge, I could no longer see the river or the mountains.I feel intense heat surrounding me and flames gushing forth from underneath. It’s dark and scary and I hear people yelling in pain. As I put my foot on the bridge to cross, I realize the bridge has become sharper than a sword and finer than a hair strand and I’m afraid to put my next foot on. I can see someone ahead of me who has fallen. My feet are getting hurt from the obstacles but I just want to hold on. Then I start to see light. Light which is inexplicably different for each one of us. For some, it is as tall as a palm-tree, whereas for some others, it’s like their shadows. How long will it take for me to reach the other end? It seems like forever. But I can see some people passing by like the blink of an eye, some like a lightning bolt, some like a bird, and some as if on a noble horse. Yet some others cross it crawling and some are snatched and thrown beneath. What is going on? Why has the walk on the bridge become so agonizing?

Alas, I remember the saying of our Prophet (S.A.W.S) “And the Bridge is laid down over Hell and I and my Ummah will be the first to cross it. None but the Messengers will speak then, and their invocation will be ‘O Allah! Grant us safety! Grant us safety!”( Muslim) Al-Sirat, The Bridge, before me- the final test of truth and the exodus begins to paradise or to hell. As I’m drawn back to reality, I realize the most certain truth, that one day we will be tested on the walk of our faith. Our walk on this path is up to us, our speed on this bridge is up to us, our fall is up to us, the obstacles which will hurt, are up to us.

My beloved fellow Muslims, we are here now, in this world, where the light is, where the opportunity is, where the preparation for the walk is. 

Let’s Light up our Path in the after-life by being heedful of the commands of our Lord. Let’s begin our walk here and conclude it in the courtyard of paradise.
Insha’Allah.

Feel what must be felt.

I learned something today.

Again.
This is Dunya. Dunya. Not a place of ease. Only glitter.
The place where you have to feel cold and hungry.

The place where you have to worry and feel scared.
The place where it gets cold.
So cold, sometimes.
The place where you have to leave the people you love.
Where you can’t get attached, because even if you do, it doesn't make it stay, it just makes it hurt when it doesn't.
The place where happiness and sadness are only players, waiting for their next line in a play.
Competing for their place on stage.
The place where gravity makes you fall, and frailty makes you bleed.
The place where sadness exists, because it must.
And tears fall to remind you of a place where they don’t.
Where they just don’t.
And isn't that just it? Isn't Jannah that place after all,
that place that Allah describes over and over and over in 2 ways?

La khawfun alayhim wa la hum yahzanoon…
On them shall be no fear…nor shall they grieve.

[Yasmin Mogahed]

Metamorphosis

Every change brings with it a refreshed spirit.

Be it walking barefoot to feel the greens or climbing the hills to kiss the clouds, be it studying in the open verandas or trying the cuisine from the opposite end of the world, be it learning the art of  painting or drowning in the aroma of fresh baking, change is something that encapsulates the heart and mind to see light from a different angle.

There is a time in each of our life when a change is expected and needed.

  

                         Embrace this change. Welcome it and live it.

After all, the future comes one day at a time =)

 Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become!