Assalamualaikum.
I recently had a discussion with a friend of mine about struggles.
No wait, it wasn't really a discussion. We were just talking on the phone, catching up on old times.
So that makes it a what? Perhaps casual conversation.
I know people who change for the better. They come to a point in their lives where Allah is their priority.
And in these times, their love for Allah is so beautiful, it inspires the rest of us to patch up our relationships with Allah as well.
But things may take a spiral downwards when they face a big obstacle, so big, it changes them for the worst, they start asking "What did I do to deserve this, Allah?"
"Why me?"
"Is this fair, Ya Allah?"
And these are dangerous questions indeed. They are the wrong questions.
Often in our lives, we are too caught up with this life that we forget to focus on the Hereafter. The way I see it, that is what obstacles are for. Sometimes we need to be pushed over, we need to fall and bleed. Why? So we stop in our tracks, look around, assess where we are and finally, look up to Allah.
So, did Allah push us for nothing?
Of course not, Allah has a reason for everything.
Tell yourself that.
Allah is doing this for a reason.
Another way to put it is OBSTACLES = CHANCES.
The best lessons are the the ones where you make mistakes and learn from them.
Am I right or am I very right?
So, in this journey towards building the best relationship you can with Allah, there are things you know and there are things you don't know.
This is your process of getting to know Allah.
These obstacles are the pathstones towards Allah.
Allah is showing you the way.
Perhaps this is Allah's way of saying "I want to bring you closer to Me, so grab this opportunity."
Perhaps this is Allah's way of showing you "Look up. I'm here for you. Remember Me because I remember you."
It is a chance for repention.
It is a chance for further prostration towards Allah.
It is a chance for you to earn Allah's love.
It is a chance to get closer to Allah.
Is this not a wonderful opportunity?
If it takes a struggle to draw you closer to Allah, then Allah must love you so much to test you with struggle after struggle after struggle.
He must love you so damn much.
He wants you closer.
He wants you to love Him back.
And when that realisation hits you, it's a mixture of tears and happiness and all of a sudden you feel so empowered by this force you didn't even knew existed.
All of a sudden, you can move mountains and slay vampires.
All of a sudden, it doesn't matter anymore what obstacles you face.
You embrace this challenge, this opportunity, this expression of love.
Once, my mother looked me straight in the eye and said
"I don't know why He is putting you through this but He must love you very much to do it."
And Wallahi, I had tears welling up in my eyes.
When I face an obstacle, I panic. I become anxious.
This goes on for about an hour.
Then when I remind myself to remember Allah, and His reasons, and His wisdom,
I calm down.
My heart stops racing.
I don't feel faint.
All that's left is gratitude and happiness.
It's easy sometimes to forget Allah. Or not necessarily forget, it's easy to NOT feel the presence of Allah.
Well, hopefully we won't look at difficulties and obstacles in a negative way anymore.
They are His reminders to us.
And if we remember enough times, if we keep being reminded, then maybe (hopefully) we won't forget.
So, let's welcome these challenges!
^_^
Tweedle-dee, Tweedle-dum,
Assalamualaikum.
Read More
I recently had a discussion with a friend of mine about struggles.
No wait, it wasn't really a discussion. We were just talking on the phone, catching up on old times.
So that makes it a what? Perhaps casual conversation.
I know people who change for the better. They come to a point in their lives where Allah is their priority.
And in these times, their love for Allah is so beautiful, it inspires the rest of us to patch up our relationships with Allah as well.
But things may take a spiral downwards when they face a big obstacle, so big, it changes them for the worst, they start asking "What did I do to deserve this, Allah?"
"Why me?"
"Is this fair, Ya Allah?"
And these are dangerous questions indeed. They are the wrong questions.
Often in our lives, we are too caught up with this life that we forget to focus on the Hereafter. The way I see it, that is what obstacles are for. Sometimes we need to be pushed over, we need to fall and bleed. Why? So we stop in our tracks, look around, assess where we are and finally, look up to Allah.
So, did Allah push us for nothing?
Of course not, Allah has a reason for everything.
Tell yourself that.
Allah is doing this for a reason.
Another way to put it is OBSTACLES = CHANCES.
The best lessons are the the ones where you make mistakes and learn from them.
Am I right or am I very right?
So, in this journey towards building the best relationship you can with Allah, there are things you know and there are things you don't know.
This is your process of getting to know Allah.
These obstacles are the pathstones towards Allah.
Allah is showing you the way.
Perhaps this is Allah's way of saying "I want to bring you closer to Me, so grab this opportunity."
Perhaps this is Allah's way of showing you "Look up. I'm here for you. Remember Me because I remember you."
It is a chance for repention.
It is a chance for further prostration towards Allah.
It is a chance for you to earn Allah's love.
It is a chance to get closer to Allah.
Is this not a wonderful opportunity?
If it takes a struggle to draw you closer to Allah, then Allah must love you so much to test you with struggle after struggle after struggle.
He must love you so damn much.
He wants you closer.
He wants you to love Him back.
And when that realisation hits you, it's a mixture of tears and happiness and all of a sudden you feel so empowered by this force you didn't even knew existed.
All of a sudden, you can move mountains and slay vampires.
All of a sudden, it doesn't matter anymore what obstacles you face.
You embrace this challenge, this opportunity, this expression of love.
Once, my mother looked me straight in the eye and said
"I don't know why He is putting you through this but He must love you very much to do it."
And Wallahi, I had tears welling up in my eyes.
When I face an obstacle, I panic. I become anxious.
This goes on for about an hour.
Then when I remind myself to remember Allah, and His reasons, and His wisdom,
I calm down.
My heart stops racing.
I don't feel faint.
All that's left is gratitude and happiness.
It's easy sometimes to forget Allah. Or not necessarily forget, it's easy to NOT feel the presence of Allah.
Well, hopefully we won't look at difficulties and obstacles in a negative way anymore.
They are His reminders to us.
And if we remember enough times, if we keep being reminded, then maybe (hopefully) we won't forget.
So, let's welcome these challenges!
^_^
Tweedle-dee, Tweedle-dum,
Assalamualaikum.
