Trials, trials and more trials

While journeying through life, it is almost impossible to be without trials and tribulations. We cannot expect our lives to be perfect in all areas - even though it's what we assume of social media personalities.

One may lose their job, so suddenly, for example. Or lose an arm in a car accident. Or even worse - lose a life.

But you may be wondering - as a lot of us do when misfortune comes our way - 'why me'?

Why do we have trials and tribulations?

A Qur'anic verse comes to mind at this question: 

"And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and crops; but give glad tidings to the steadfast,

This is a certainty - we are bound to be tested. But Allah - God - praises those who, in the face of such tribulations, are patient and steadfast. But another question arises: why are they so? How can they be so patient when their business has gone bankrupt? They're dirt-poor? Their beloved child has died?   

The following verse is as follows: 

Who say, when a misfortune striketh them: Lo! we are Allah's and lo! unto Him we are returning." [Verses 155-156, Chapter 2; Pickthall translation]

They are patient because they remember that they belong to Allah, the Greatest and that soon, they will return to Him. They belong to the One Who created them. He is their Protector and Source of Peace. And after their brief life in this world, they will return to their Merciful Lord. These are the people who we should give glad tidings to. 

Source: https://www.newsfirst.lk/2017/03/29/9as-year-says-examinations-department/164836/

A temporary test

This life is not forever. We're born, we live and we die. This is why the patient slaves of God are not fazed by their misfortunes. They know the true reality. This will all pass eventually. Like the passing of clouds on a cool summers' day. What is five, ten, twenty years of suffering compared to an eternity of bliss? I don't mean to trivialise these tribulations - indeed, they are painful, and we all have our fair share of them - but a true believer of God has an unwavering hope of His mercy.  

One thing to remember is that death is never too far away. It doesn't only apply to the elderly. So, if we know that death will come to each and every one of us, what should matter is what we did when we were living. Because there's no going back - this is the only chance we have. To be good and do good. So that we can be recompensed with nothing but good. 

"Is the reward of goodness aught save goodness?" [Verse 60, Chapter 55; Pickthall translation]

Don't judge a book by its cover...

Having lived for more than two decades, I realise many things. It is in those moments of contemplation, a chance encounter or an experience touching my very core that these realisations occur. 

All these years I thought I knew what the well known phrase, 'Don't judge a book by its cover' meant. But it is only recently that I have come to fully realise its implications and ultimately, its significance.  

Source: https://dribbble.com/shots/4608712-Don-t-Judge-A-Book-By-Its-Cover

It was maybe three years ago when I had met a young woman at university. Her outward appearance was striking - to me, at least. My first impressions of her were unfavourable, but once I talked to her, she was smiling, friendly, welcoming. A year, or two years after that encounter, I saw her again but this time her outward appearance was different to the first time I saw her. She wore garments that made me feel humbled in her presence. I truly admired her, and thought her more beautiful than I.

It was then that I remembered my first time meeting her and how I had been unfair in my judgement. I heard my conscious reprimand me for wrongfully judging this woman and having these thoughts about her appearance. I mean, if everyone judged by appearance, who would have known that there are rubies and diamonds in the mines? Or pearls in dull-looking oyster shells?

Many people can give you a wrong impression solely by their appearance but once you get to know them and perceive them as they are (without attaching labels or assumptions about them), you will have done the right thing. Imagine judging someone just because of what they look like! How absurd it sounds! 

But then there also exist people who deceive you and others by their appearance. You would think they are respectable people, but in fact, they are the complete opposite. You may be asking, 'What to do then?!' Well, what I would do is, once their deception becomes apparent and I know that they are far from being respectable human beings (with tangible evidence!) I would avoid them like the plague. 

So, I pray to have refuge in my Lord from judging people unfairly. I pray that He perfects our character. 

And I pray to have refuge in my Lord from those who deceive:

"And of mankind are some who say: We believe in Allah and the Last Day, when they believe not. They think to beguile Allah and those who believe, and they beguile none save themselves; but they perceive not." 

[chapter 2: verses 8-9]

 

The Mountains

Living in the middle of a concrete jungle, there isn't much opportunity to observe nature in all its glory. Much less, mountains.

So it was when I was thousands of feet high, above the clouds, that I first laid my eyes on a mountain range. That of huge, snow-capped mountains. AKA The Alps (images below).

How do these mountains reach their sublime height? Some reaching the clouds, their peaks invisible. Many times bigger and larger than us, than anything we can imagine. By their width and breadth. And each shaped uniquely, all structured above the earth. And what about their extraordinary colours and hues? Some topped with snow and others without. 

Their reality is revealed in the following verses: 

''And thou seest the hills thou deemest solid flying with the flight of clouds: the doing of Allah Who perfecteth all things. Lo! He is Informed of what ye do.''

                                                         Surah An-Naml, verse 88 (Note: Pickthall translation)

''And placed therein high mountains and given you to drink sweet water therein?''

                                              Al-Mursalaat, verse 27 (Note: Pickthall translation)

''And He hath cast into the earth firm hills that it quake not with you, and streams and roads that ye may find a way.''    

                                                Surah An-Nahl, verse 15 (Note: Pickthall translation)

''Hast thou not seen that Allah causeth water to fall from the sky, and We produce therewith fruit of divers hues; and among the hills are streaks white and red, of divers hues, and (others) raven-black;''

                                                             Fatir, verse 27 (Note: Pickthall translation)

It is clear that the mountains are a huge part of the world we live in, regardless of whether or not we see them. In the above verses, they are associated with being the doing of God, i.e. a perfect creation; their height, sweet water, how firm they are above the earth and their numerous colours and hues. 

By witnessing the mountains' majesty and greatness that day in the airplane, I am reminded of the majesty and greatness of the Creator. 

Take some time out to reflect on this part of nature. This creation of the Creator, the One who ultimately knows the true reality and perfects all things.

Being thankful

There's nothing like reaching the highest point of appreciation. A euphoric sensation, sedating and reassuring. And it seldom occurs, for this wordly life - with its hustle and bustle - never fails to distract us.

Perhaps you're outside, on your way to work or school. Or maybe you're at home with your family. Take a moment to yourself. Slow down and look around you. Reflect on your life:

What are you grateful for? 

What do you have that you can't live without and is still in your possession?

Do you remember a moment in your life that meant so much to you, you'll never forget it?
 

Above is an image of my cat. He was a sweetheart, but I didn't appreciate him until it was too late. 

You can't turn back time ...

This life, and all that is in it, is fleeting. Money comes and goes. Businesses grow and flourish, only to be bankrupt and suffer losses (do you remember the Depression? The 2008 economic crash?). People live and die. We learn from our lived experiences that these are not constant phenomena. They are always in a state of change. And, as humans, we absolutely hate change. Why? Because it takes away our security and causes us worry, among other things.

So, how should we react to such change? If there's no guarantee that anything will be permanent, what's the point in lamenting loss? Now, I know that we as emotional beings can't suppress our feelings. But in my opinion, there's no point in exaggerating and being bitter about whatever happens. I rationalise this by saying that, if you do, it does nothing except harm your mood and waste time. That said, it's best to make the most of things while they last. After all, we know from past experiences that there's no second chances. There's no turning back time. 

Reflection...a natural inclination?

It occurs to me that perhaps we, as human beings, have a natural inclination to reflect on life and the universe. 

As young children, we are trying to make sense of the world around us. Most importantly, we are using our faculty of sight to look at our surroundings - even before we are walking on our own two feet. Reflection may begin by observing that which we can see. And it progresses with thinking deeply about that object perceived, asking questions about its existence, features, character, nature. I, for one, was a curious child. I would say 'why' all the time to the point that my mother would at last reply with, 'because the sky is so high' and just like that, our conversation would be at an end. 

As human beings, we are constantly waking up to a new day and sleeping in the dead of night. Always witnessing the movement of the clouds and the appearance of the stars. We can't take this for granted and dismiss it as mere normalcy. Why? The universe is a great expanse of space, from the tiny ants crawling on the earth's surface to the giant star that is the sun. How can this occur by accident? Or with no purpose? Abdulati also puts forward questions regarding this, 

'Can we find an explanation of the outstanding universe? Is there any persuasive interpretation of the secret of existence?' (1997, p.9)

It is indeed an extraordinary occurrence. Just think, for example - the sun rises at the beginning of the day and sets at its end. And this happens 365 days a year, without fail. Such precision and perfect order, 

'...we observe that the universe exists and functions in the most orderly manner, and that it has survived for hundreds of thousands of years. Can we, then, assume that all this is accidental and haphazard? Or can we attribute, the existence of man and the whole world to mere chance?' (1997, p.9-10)

Source:

Abdulati, H. (1997) Islam in Focus. Egypt: Al Fatah Foundation