#Ramadan2024 - Day-11
The Annual Resurrection
إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ ٱلۡحَیَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡیَا كَمَاۤءٍ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَاۤءِ فَٱخۡتَلَطَ بِهِۦ نَبَاتُ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مِمَّا یَأۡكُلُ ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمُ حَتَّىٰۤ إِذَاۤ أَخَذَتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ زُخۡرُفَهَا وَٱزَّیَّنَتۡ وَظَنَّ أَهۡلُهَاۤ أَنَّهُمۡ قَـٰدِرُونَ عَلَیۡهَاۤ أَتَىٰهَاۤ أَمۡرُنَا لَیۡلًا أَوۡ نَهَارࣰا فَجَعَلۡنَـٰهَا حَصِیدࣰا كَأَن لَّمۡ تَغۡنَ بِٱلۡأَمۡسِۚ كَذَ ٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلۡـَٔایَـٰتِ لِقَوۡمࣲ یَتَفَكَّرُونَ﴿ ٢٤ ﴾
“The life of this world is just like rain We send down from the sky, producing a mixture of plants which humans and animals consume. Then just as the earth looks its best, perfectly beautified, and its people think they have full control over it, there comes to it Our command by night or by day, so We mow it down as if it never flourished yesterday! This is how We make the signs clear for people who reflect” — Quran 10:24
Forest grow unattended and carefully curated harvests sometimes go awry and fail to yield the expected results. We can’t always control everything — we do what we can and leave the rest to God.
Many people think this life is all we have and deny the resurrection — saying it’s implausible magic.
In the seasons we see around us we see the resurrection of plants and flowers all the time. Like clockwork we see flowers die through the winter only to be born again in sprint.
The cycle we see all around us, will one day be our own selves. After we pass away our bodies perish and decompose, only for us to one day be resurrected and shown the truth of the world in front of God.
#Ramadan2024 - Day-12
What Can We Do?
وَٱصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ١١٥
"And be patient! Certainly God does not discount the reward of the good-doers." — Qur’an 11:115
God asks only for our efforts. The results are up to Him.
We strive todo what we can to establish goodness on the earth and todo good deeds — but ultimately the results are with God.
We shouldn’t be disheartened if it feels like our actions aren’t progressing or we’re working in vain. Ultimately results are with God.
Even a small action done sincerely can have a large impact — God can put immense blessings and barakah in whatever He wishes.
Conversely we may see a big action done with poor intentions is not as effective.
At the end of the day we can only do what we can do — let us all try our best to make the most of the time we have and the sphere of influence we can affect.
As long as we have tried sincerely to do good for the sake of God then we pray that He accepts it and we are of the successful ones.
Change starts at home, making sure things are right with our family, our friends, our social circle before we can hope to tackle larger societal ills.
#Ramadan2024 - Day-13
When Does Success Come?
The remarkable story of Joseph walks us through the journey of a young, forbearing man, cast out by his brothers, sold into slavery and wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit.
It’s not looking good for young Joseph…
Joseph perseveres however bringing excellence to everything he does. Whether that is as a servant being honest in the household he serves, or as a prisoner being respectful and generous to his other fellow prisoners. Joseph is continuously patient and brings prophetic character to his every interaction.
God later opens a door which had seemed closed for years. A former prisoner remembers Joseph and mentions him to the king…
The king consults Joseph to interpret his dream — pleased with what he hears he then frees Joseph from prison and establishes him as head of food security for the entire land.
An immense title carrying with it honour, power and great responsibility.
وَكَذَ ٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِیُوسُفَ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ یَتَبَوَّأُ مِنۡهَا حَیۡثُ یَشَاۤءُۚ نُصِیبُ بِرَحۡمَتِنَا مَن نَّشَاۤءُۖ وَلَا نُضِیعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِینَ﴿ ٥٦ ﴾ وَلَأَجۡرُ ٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةِ خَیۡرࣱ لِّلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ یَتَّقُونَ﴿ ٥٧ ﴾
"This is how We established Joseph in the land to settle wherever he pleased. We shower Our mercy on whoever We will, and We never discount the reward of the good-doers.
And the reward of the Hereafter is far better for those who are faithful and are mindful ˹of Allah˺." — Qur’an 56-57
How many times in our lives do we become frustrated with a situation or wish we had achieved more?
Do we push on getting frustrated? Do we get angry? Do we give up?
We should look to the noble example of Joseph, trying to bring excellence to our lives wherever we may find our circumstances taking us. All the while constantly and patiently relying on God to increase us and grant us success in our endeavours.
#Ramadan2024 - Day-14
Praying for the Impossible
When the angels came to Ibrahim (Abraham) as an old man to inform him he was having a son, he was shocked.
قَالُوا۟ لَا تَوْجَلْ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَـٰمٍ عَلِيمٍۢ ٥٣
قَالَ أَبَشَّرْتُمُونِى عَلَىٰٓ أَن مَّسَّنِىَ ٱلْكِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُونَ ٥٤
قَالُوا۟ بَشَّرْنَـٰكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْقَـٰنِطِينَ ٥٥
They reassured ˹him˺, “Do not be afraid! Surely we give you good news of a knowledgeable son.” He wondered, “Do you give me good news despite my old age? What unlikely news!”
They responded, “We give you good news in all truth, so do not be one of those who despair.” — Qur’an 15:53-55
First and foremost this illustrates the power of dua — despite his old age Ibrahim continued to make dua for right guidance and for righteous progeny. Even in his old age God granted him a son.
It seemed impossible but God granted it to Ibrahim. Despite the "odds", despite the status quo, despite what we limit ourselves to thinking is possible, God is able to grant any wish.
Even if we don’t fully understand how it could happen, we can still pray to God for something we want, for His sake.
Finally when the result comes we thank Him profusely. We don’t despair or feel stressed with responsibility now that we have achieved what we prayed for. We accept the responsibility granted to us and we continue to be thankful to appreciate what we have been granted.
When things don’t seem probable, when they may even seem impossible, we have to remember that nothing is impossible for God. We continue to pray for guidance, for acceptance of our endeavours and for God to increase us in ways that are beyond our meagre comprehension ❤️
#Ramadan2024 - Day-15
The Protector Provider
۞ وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًۭا ٧٠
"We have honoured the children of Adam and carried them by land and sea; We have provided good sustenance for them and favoured them specially above many of those We have created." — Qur’an 17:70
When we look at our lives we can see God sustaining us and providing for us in countless ways.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرًۢا بَصِيرًۭا ٣٠
"Your Lord gives abundantly to whoever He will, and sparingly to whoever He will: He knows and observes His servants thoroughly." — Qur’an 17:30
Throughout our lives he continues to provide for us — all goodness comes from Him. Every day we wake up with a roof over our head and a meal to eat is a blessing from Him.
Everyday we wake up with faith in our heart and we’re able to praise Him is a blessing:
اَللّٰهُمَّ أَعِنِّيْ عَلَىٰ ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ.
Allāhumma aʿinnī ʿalā dhikrika wa shukrika wa ḥusni ʿibādatik.
O Allah, help me in remembering You, in being grateful to You, and in worshipping You in an excellent manner.