Depending on Allah alone in times of Hardship
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent the Most Merciful
“O my Lord! truly am I in (desperate) need of any good that You do send me!” (28:24)
Musa (A.S), before prophethood, had to leave his hometown in search of safety and refuge against the tyranny and injustice of the Pharoahs. Pursued by Pharoah’s men, the young Musa (A.S) feared for his life. He was shelterless and vulnerable, wandering about for some refuge. Eventually he came to a well in a far off city, in search of water. There he saw two young girls waiting for their turn to get water from the well amidst a crowd of shepherds and strange men.
Although Musa (A.S) was in deep distress himself, yet instead of pitying himself and imploring others for help, he decides to help the maidens in need through an act of kindness. He offered to do the needful for them out of goodwill and regard, without expecting any return or reward, or even speaking of his own great need to anyone. Such was the largesse of his spirit, even though he was not yet a prophet.
The selflessness of young Musa (A.S) is remarkable. He does not wallow in his own sorrow or make much of it to people around, nor does his own misery make him shrink from helping others or desisting from kindness to others.
This is rising above and defeating one’s egoistic self-obsession and self-absorption that so many of us are trapped in. Thereafter, having helped the maidens, Musa (A.S) quietly leaves in search of shade and sits down to rest under the shade of a tree, alone. Here, in solitude unnoticed by any human being, he pours his heart out to his Lord, he begs Him for mercy and asks of Him to bless him with good.
He does not berate himself by asking of men. He lays bare the secrets of his own heart and soul wholly and solely to Allah. Such is the strength of his faith and the intimacy with his Lord. This is complete trust in Allah and dependency on Him alone. This is making Allah alone your confidante, your refuge, your companion in dark hours. Hence comes the blessing of Allah, uninhibited.
The maidens Musa (A.S) had helped, recognized his nobility of spirit. They return to him, asking him to accompany them to their father, who happens to be a righteous person himself. The girls’ father offers to Musa (A.S) the refuge of his home and a means of sustenance. Musa (A.S) is als betrothed to one of the girls and so gets the love and companionship of a home and family. Thus is the heartfelt prayer of the true believer who trusts Allah alone and implores Him alone for all his needs, answered in ways human beings cannot even think of.
The Best of Planners is Allah! truly, Allah loves the patient ones.
Tuesday, 27 January 2012 @ Masjid Haji Mohd Salleh, Palmer Road
it was the Chinese New Year holidays and im really glad i made plans with Ana Bibi to visit maqam Habib Nuh Al-Habshi. it was a beautiful day spent indeed. maybe its the maqam, maybe its the simplicity of the masjid or my own serene friend's companionship that made me feel so at ease today... mashaAllah.
i carried on reciting Surah Yaseen after dzuhur, my 39th... happy to have Ana Bibi to "spot" my recitations. i remembered it was Ana too who taught me the sunnah of continous Surah Yaseen reading should i have a hajat.. well, continuos it should be but i stretched it days.. heh. today she taught me the virtues of the above verse.. leaning on an intention for Allah to bestow marriage as per taught by her teacher in Syria. see, she did it and mashaAllah...
me? i think she noticed i was not as excited as i should be on marriage possibilities especially when i asked if it could be for other yearned intentions (my thoughts always on studying prospects in Tarim)... its not that i do not want to marry but this Tarim intention has overwhelmed my spirits so much so that the prospect of marriage has taken a backseat. i told Ana, i feel selfish for thinking of marriage cuz i would just want a witness to my life.
its hard when you have so much things going on but you don't feel like sharing cuz you are trying your best-est to avoid the prospect of riya' (showing off) or possible anxiety attacks when private becomes well, not private.. hard to find trustworthiness or them who sincerely wana hear you. i know of one who interupts my words constantly just so hers would be heard and deemed more important. hah! i know, to my face. ironies Allah put me in to reflect my own weakness, alhamdulillah. these situations made me realise not only that is a trait i honestly do not wish to posess, i should also learn to be a more sincere listener.
oh, the fact im absolutely lazy to go out and keep abreast with aquantainces' ongoings is not helping either. whatever spare time i have, i'll love my bed to bits. *istighfars*
on matters of riya', Ana wisely pointed out that when you sincerely just wana share Allah makes it possible to rid of riya' from your speech. see what education does to you? may Allah be pleased with Ana Bibi and grant her ease in her ongoing pursuit to continue seeking sacred knowldege in Syria. amin. only Allah knows how i have benefitted from this friendship. mashaAllah.
inshaAllah i will istiqomah on reciting the above verse as a du'a repeated post tashahud before salam to end solah, as taught. at 31, it has finally hit me that whatever happens, good or seemingly bad, is definitely for my best interest at heart when my intentions is seeking Allah.. seeking awareness that Allah is SO close to us, of course. the part on pursuing something solely for Allah versus plain nafs has been clear but oh so hard to put in actions at times. patience and loads of du'a is the key.
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