Nafsiya Reflections: Hope

Welcome to another episode of Nafsiya Reflections: Hope

2020 has been tough. The least we can say on a world-wide scale is huge changes in our lives... It felt like a nightmare we just wanted to wake up from. We have and are still away from loved ones, we have lost jobs and businesses, lost lives, and the systems we live under were put to the test, and as a whole, failed miserably. Individuals were pressured to lift the broken systems, as healthcare workers, for example, managed with all they had available, and are still protesting worldwide. Not to mention the trust that some have lost towards their governments... to the point that the vaccine is something many are not willing to take, worried that it isn’t safe.

Our routines have changed, long distance learning, confined at times so as to not hurt anyone we loved by spreading the virus, or cutting down on our income. Enjoying a cup of coffee or tea at our favorite café suddenly seems impossible or enjoying each other’s company, without a voice in the back of our heads wondering if one of us has caught Covid. Now add that to everything else that goes on in our own lives! We as the human race have definitely been put to the test this year. It has been tough. Alhamdulilah.

we must remember is that this dunya is our test. We are already in it! We have been in it since the creation of our father and dear prophet Adam (AS). Allah says in Surah al-Ankabut, ayah one through three,

الم ﴿١﴾ أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّـهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ ﴿٣﴾

[Alif, Lam, Meem (1) Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried? (2) But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.]

See, we must always take a step back and look at this Dunya through the lens of Islam, the lens of a believer. Knowing that this is all temporary, and yes it is a challenge. We can get overwhelmed at times, and just wish we could fast forward, to the next year, or the next five years, or snap our fingers and “poof” as we wished we could do as kids. But see, we are being tried, so that Allah SWT will make evident the good from us, from the bad, to prove our love to Allah swt.

Remember... (إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا)... Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. No matter what we have been going through or will go through, Covid or no Covid, Allah is with us the entire time. There is huge ease in that! When we feel his presence, feel Him SWT in our hearts, there is strength in that! A beauty in that! He SWT will take the place of anything, and set contentment and warmth in its place. So what we need is to have the right mindset.

If last year has taught us anything, it has taught us to be grateful for the little things. To be grateful for our families, to be grateful for our friends, our homes or in simply taking in fresh air without a mask on. To be grateful for everything we have, and not look at what we don’t have. And yes we may feel that that can be easier said than done sometimes, but see, what’s important is our reaction to such feelings. Pray to Allah, or make Duaa in sujood knowing Allah will answer us, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:

" أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَهُوَ سَاجِدٌ فَأَكثِرُوا الدُّعَاءَ "

"The closest that the slave comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so invoke Allah much (in prostration)."

Knowing He SWT loves to hear our voices call on Him. ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ) "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." So Let’s not forget about the power of duaa’, in the power of the last part of the night when Allah descends and asks His slaves.

"‏ يَنْزِلُ رَبُّنَا تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا حِينَ يَبْقَى ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرُ يَقُولُ مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ مَنْ يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ مَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ ‏"

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) said, "Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: "Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?"

See, we as believers must anticipate the good and be optimistic, no matter how bleak it seems out there. Our hearts must remain strong believing we have The Protector, The Sufficient on our side.

‏The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said:

‏ "إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي فِيَّ وَأَنَا مَعَهُ إِذَا دَعَانِي" ‏

"Indeed Allah Most High says: 'I am as My slave thinks of Me, and I am with him when He calls upon Me.'"

And knowing this we must face challenges head on, as Allah’s believers and do all we are capable of to change it. We must take action to change our current reality so that we may protect our mentality. To live in worldly contentment, in working to bring back our state, the Khilafah ar-Rashidah (Caliphate), on the prophetic method. For it is the systems we live under that push us to constantly fall in despair, AstaghfirAllah. That tear us away from Islam, from Allah (swt), and in the end that is what makes us feel helpless.

But even then, we must believe in the mercy of Allah. For Allah told us to call upon Him in THIS DUNYA not just in jannah, because HE (swt) will answer our call. He will be there for us, when we truly rely on Him, not putting our trust or expectations in anyone but Allah first, in giving us what we need. To not rely on scientists, nor governments that use man made laws, nor our spouses , our parents, nor our bosses, but Allah (swt), for He is the Sustainer. Know that Allah is the ONE who gives you what you ask or need. Allah (swt) says, in Surah al Araf, ayah 180,

(وَلِلَّـهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا)

[And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them.]

For Allah is The Kareem, The Generous. Why would HE SWT ask us to call on Him (Jalah Jalaluh) with that glorious name, if He wasn’t going to show us that generosity? Subhan Allah. Don’t just have hope in what is to come, but trust in Allah that He will provide you with all that is khair, what is good, at the exact right time. Not a moment before, and not a moment later.

So in the end, we shouldn’t look at what’s going on in the world with despair and lose heart, but rather, look at it as a believers, as a believer in Allah swt, The Disposer of affairs, our affairs, the Ummah’s affairs, with hope in knowing that no matter what happens, it is Allah swt, who gave it permission to be... or not to be, yet.

Walhamdulillah Rab Al-Alameen. All praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Jazak Allahu Khayran

Ummah Voice Podcast
‏