About a personal struggle I had as a teen
Picking up the Wrong Ball By: Yasmin Mogahed Everyone has problems. At least that’s what my 7th grade teacher told us. He asked us to imagine rolling up all our problems into a ball and throwing that ball on a pile filled with the problems of all other people. He then argued to us that-given a choice-each and every one of us would choose our own ball over all others. Although I was too young then to understand his metaphor fully, I knew that everyone had problems. And I was no different. Growing up, depression became a natural part of my life. Throughout middle school and into high...
Read MoreThe Lifetime of a Hardship
Allah tell us in the Quran that for all things He has created an “appointed term’. This includes our hardships and struggles. They all have a birth and a death. They all have an appointed term. Every situation in our life has an appointed term, after which they come to an end and/or change. There have been a few periods of my life when this particular ayah has comforted me so much. It is ‘simple’, but so profound: “And be patient for the decision of your Lord, for indeed you are in Our eyes.” (52:48) So many powerful lessons: 1. Allah has your situation...
Read MoreA Reflection on Victory and Defeat
Reflect on this: When did the victory come? When they admit defeat. Not to the creation. To God. Then victory came. Not from the creation. From God. [See Quran (54: 10-15), (21: 87-88), (7:23), (21: 83-84) and duaa of Muhammad (SAW) after Taif]
Read MoreThat is Loyalty
When they slept, He was awake. When they broke, He held you up. When every means failed, He saved you. When all the creation left you, He remained. He always remains. Never forget when the storms pushed you to your knees and there was no one else who could help you, He carried you. When you were broken and you swore this time it couldn’t be fixed—never forget who fixed it. Never forget what He saved you from. Never forget how He put you back together. That moment when you felt helpless and alone, never forget who never left. To forget this is the greatest heedlessness. No matter who or...
Read MoreThings we tend to get wrong
Don’t use Allah to get to dunya. Use dunya to get to Allah. Don’t seek refuge from Allah with your deeds. Seek refuge from your deeds with Allah. Don’t advocate on behalf of your nafs when addressing Allah. Advocate on behalf of Allah when addressing your nafs.
Read MoreThe Lens of the Heart
If you’re facing a difficult situation or decision, be careful not to try to see with the eyes. To move only by what is seen of the outer world is the greatest deception and cause for ruin and misguidance. Close your physical eyes. And ask Allah to move your heart. It is only by the heart that you will *really* see. It is only with the heart that you will be able to see through the illusions created by pain or pleasure or fear. It is only with the lens of the heart that you will see through the creation and all created circumstance. It is only with the lens of the heart that you will...
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