Note: I realize after posting yesterdays reading that I wrote my points in a manner which could have lead to misunderstanding.  Please note that I did not mean we should stop making dua for what we want or not make physical efforts to achieve our plans. To leave something in Allah’s hands and trust He is the best of planners is to not lose patience or get angry if things do not work out as we plan them. To not assume responsibility is not to assume that we are Godly and have a right to everything being the way we want it to (ie. to be humble).  To leave something in Allah’s hands is to accept Allah’s will to accept or not accept your dua and then choose to either keep making dua for as long as you still want to or to make dua for something better from Allah’s (swt) treasures. Remember, ultimately Islam is sumbission to the will of  Allah (swt). Perhaps I should have kept it simple like this yesterday. I seem to have gotten lost in my own words. I apologize if I confused anyone and hope the previous post makes more sense now.

To trust that His decrees are best for us and follow it even if we are resistant to them

Often, there are decrees of Allah (swt) which clash with our worldly ideals. Like wearing the hijab clashes with the worldly ideal of looking like a fashionable ‘it girl’ (always a challenge for me) or abstaining from alcohol or drugs clashes with the worldly ideal of being socially accepted into a group of friends or a group of strangers who indulge in these things. Except, alcohol is not banned just because we need to learn the lesson of abstinence. Much of Islamic Law is based on the protection of our society, life, family, intellect, wealth and the deen itself. Alcohol, in all its destructiveness places all these things and more in danger. While not every person will become an alcoholic, the ill effects that alcohol abuse creates in society, within the life of the individual and their family makes a religious ban completely logical.

The knowledge of Allah (swt) is incomprehensible and great and we cannot know the wisdom behind every one of His decrees. Through study of Islam, constant pondering over Allah’s (swt) greatness and wisdom we can begin to trust that those things we do not want to adhere to is what is best for us.     

To trust Allah (swt) when things are bad

 One of the many questions atheists use to floor the religious is, if God exists and is Loving and Merciful, why is there so much pain, suffering and evil in this world. Its hard to endure or even see pain and suffering. Especially so when it is someone close to you and even when it is strangers or the suffering of a country. Imagine how difficult it is for our Creator, whose love for us is infinite. He loved us so much that he created Jannah for us, a place of infinite beauty where every single one of our desires will be fulfilled without sacrifice or pain. But Jannah would have meant nothing to us if we just got it handed to us because this is our nature. Food tastes much better after you fast right? That’s because without hard work or suffering to attain something it is not as meaningful or enjoyable. Allah (swt) created this world so we could earn jannah and sacrifice in this world to get eternal happiness and joy. We need to remember this and trust in it when we are going through difficulties or feel upset at the state others are living in. Make dua to Allah (swt) to help you and those who are suffering out of your situation. Reliance and trust is one of the learning outcomes we need to achieve on this earth.  

 To trust Allah (swt) to guide protect, provide, sustain and help us 

We are worriers. We stress and worry about so many things, finances, security, which direction to take in our lives, you name it and someone in this world is stressing about it. It’s like a constant roller coaster we never get off or never let go of. Why do we need to do this when we know who is responsible for everything. If we need our car fixed we go to a mechanic right? So if we need any help at all or anything shouldn’t we go to the source of everything? We know that our sustenance is from Him, that he guides, helps and protects. So as they say (based on hadith) tie your camel (eg. take your car to the mechanic), make dua (eg. Make dua the mechanic does a good job and doesn’t skin you on the price) and trust in Allah (swt) that it will happen (and if it does not trust that it was best and you will be compensated). We always hear in lectures and religious literature that the heart that relies completely on Allah for everything feels no fear or worry except the rejection of Allah. This heart knows that when Allah (swt) turns away from it then it will have nothing but when He is happy with it, it will have everything. This is only true if we achieve true reliance. Again through remembrance of Allah’s (swt) power and His favours upon you and others as well as always asking Him for anything you need (even if is something small) we learn to trust and strengthen our trust at the same time.

To trust Allah (swt) in dua

We should ask for all of our halal desires with complete awareness that Allah (swt) alone can answer our duas and with the expectation of our duas being accepted (the acceptance of our duas are dependent on certain conditions being fulfilled). Acceptance of dua means that our duas are answered by Allah (swt) in three ways: We get what we have asked for, get better in the hereafter or some equivalent evil is averted. Here we should not lose faith if we do not see an apparent acceptance of our dua. Remember this does not mean our dua is not accepted, Allah (swt) is the best of planners. I was never certain if we should continue making dua for something that we want if there is not apparent acceptance of the dua or just leave it be. After some research I have learnt that the general advice is to persevere in the dua but to let go, ie to not get impatient, angry, constantly think about why your dua is not being fulfilled, question Allah (swt) etc.

Daily Task:

1. What is your biggest challenge in regards to following a decree of Allah (swt). Try and research why we have been told to do (or not to do) something and the benefits of the decree. Also do some self-reflection. So for example, if your biggest challenge is wearing hijab all the time, ask yourself why you feel the need not to wear hijab sometimes. Or if your biggest challenge is saying no when your friends light up a joint, ask yourself why you go along with whatever they are doing. Write everything down.
2. The next time you are worrying about anything, thinking of something you need or want, wondering about something spiritual or stressing about how to solve a problem, stop and remember Allah (swt). Read durood and praise Allah (swt). Then, make dua for what you need. It is a simple thing that we all know we should do but forget in our busy lives. Make a habit of relying on Allah (swt) all the time not just when you formally sit down to make dua after praying salaah or reading Quraan. Often at this time, we think about making dua for the bigger things and we forget about the moments in our day where we thought about our need for a pair of shoes or some other random need. Incorporating reliance on Allah (swt) into our everyday moments is another way of attaining and building our trust in Him. It does not take long and InshaAllah it will become natural for all of us.