Ramadan Reveries: Part 3 - Patience

Dear Reader,

Seeing as it's Friday (Jummah), and it's recommended to read Surah Kahf every Friday, I thought I'd share one of my favourite stories from this Surah: a story from the life of Prophet Moses (AS). It's rather long and spans 22 ayat [18:60-82] so I'm just going to give you an abbreviated version, with a bit of background. 

Prophet Moses was raised as a prince in the Pharaoh's household, so he was physically very strong, but he also was a bit hot-tempered and was used to having his way. In his youth he had even killed an Egyptian man, accidentally of course, and with a single punch at that. So after he had Prophethood bestowed upon him, Allah (swt) sent him on a journey to seek wisdom from a man that Allah had gifted with much knowledge. On this journey Moses (AS) took with him one companion, a servant boy, and some salted fish. Allah (swt) told him that when they reach the junction of two seas, will be where they would find the wise man (Al-Khidhr). 

It was a long and arduous journey in the heat and deserts of the middle-east, but Prophet Moses (AS) did not give up and persisted on carrying on walking. One morning, after they had travelled very far, Moses (AS) said to his companion, "bring my some of that fish to eat." The boy, looking rather anguished, replied "Satan must have made me forget, but a little while back, while you were taking a nap by the rock, the fish amazing came back to life, leapt out of the bag and swam away into the sea."

The Prophet Moses (AS) smiled at him and began to back-track, saying "That is a sign from Allah, and exactly what we have been seeking." And it was at the junction of the two seas that they found Al-Khidhr. (Aside: his name actually means 'The Green one', make of that what you will.) Moses (AS) respectfully asked him "May I follow you and be your student, so that you may teach me about good judgement?" He replied "Indeed, you will not have patience with me. And how can you have patience about something you do not know?"

A children's book that also tells this story,
by Saniyasnain Khan 

"InshAllah, you will find me patient. And I will not dis obey your orders." So Al-Khidhr finally gave in to Moses' (AS) request and said "Okay, you may follow me. But do not question me or what I do, until I decide to give you an explanation." And so, they set out on a journey and soon came upon a little village by the river, whose sole source of income came from a boat they used to ferry people and goods across. Al-Khidhr and Moses (AS) embarked upon this boat, but when they were half-way across the river, Al-Khidhr damaged the boat. 


Moses (AS) exclaimed in surprise "Do you want these people to drown, they who have been so good to us? You have certainly committed an awful deed." To which Al-Khidhr only replied "Did I not say that you will not have patience with me?"  "Oh, I'm sorry," Moses (AS) repented, "I forgot. Please, do not make this difficult for me?"

Soon after, they disembarked from the boat and travelled a little further, where they came upon a group of children playing. Al-Khidhr went up to one of the older boys and killed him. Now this was an area with which Prophet Moses was particularly sensitive. Having accidentally killed someone himself, he knew of the dire consequences and feelings of guilt. So when he witnessed what Al-Khidhr did, he replied to him in anger "How can you do such a thing? He was just an innocent child! Truly, you have commited an awful crime."

All Al-Khidhr said was "Did I not tell you that you will never have patience with me?" Thoroughly chastised, Moses (AS) said "If I question you again, you should not keep me as your companion. I have given you my excuse." So they set out once more, travelling, until they came to a village that was rather hostile, and refused to provide them with food or shelter. But as they were leaving the village, they came across a wall that was crumbling and immediately Al-Khidhr began to rebuild it. Moses (AS), thinking that he had learnt his lesson, quietly help him with the repairs. When all was done, Al-Khidhr began to leave again and Moses (AS) couldn't help asking "Will you not take payment from them? Especially after they were so inhospitable to us?" 

"Moses," said Al-Khidhr calmly, "this is where we part ways. But before you leave, I will tell you the meaning behind those deed with which you could not have patience. Firstly, the damages that I made to the boat could easily be repaired, but the place where that boat was heading was ruled by tyrant King, who would have taken possession of the boat, had he found it in an immaculate condition. My deed was the lesser of two evils.

"As for that boy. His parents are good, righteous people and he would have caused them much trouble and heartache if he had grown to maturity. Now, in their grief, they will turn to Allah and He will bless them with another child, who will be purer and better for them. Finally, the wall we repaired belonged to two orphan boys. Beneath the wall, their father had hidden treasure for them. Had the wall crumbled, the treasure would have wrongly been taken by other people of the village. Now the two boys will find it when they are much older and will be able to use the treasure more wisely. And these are the things, with which you could not have patience."      
                   

And along with Moses (AS) we are also taught the lesson of patience. In addition to that, we  learn not to question why terrible things happen. In each of the three scenarios, something that seemed horrible/evil/useless on it's outset, had hidden benefits that would come to light later on, the knowledge of which Allah (swt) had given to Al-khidhr. So next time something bad happens to us, we should not breakdown in fits of rage or depression, but approach it with calm patience. Because it is sent from Allah (swt) and within every trial/hardship/calamity there is a blessing for us, which we cannot see in that moment but that Allah azza wajal knows about. "For indeed, with every hardship comes ease" [94:5].   

Plus, it's true what they used to say: "patience is a virtue." This becomes ever more important in these modern times when the entire world is just a click away. We see our patience and tolerance slowly deteriorating with each passing year: e.g. if the internet isn't loading, we refresh the page a million times. If we don't get the answers we're looking for immediately, we easily become frustrated and angry. If the queue at the shop counter is too long, we search for easier and quicker ways to get things done. If it become just slightly to hot, our immediate reaction is to turn on the fan or remove our clothes. If that elderly gentleman whose short of hearing, cannot understand what we're saying, our manner becomes loud and offensive. In this capitalist society, where "time is money", we no longer have time to be patient.

Allah (swt) knows all this. He foresaw that human nature is prone to impatience. That's why patience is something that is so often and continuously mentioned in the Qur'an. One of the reasons why we should read Surah Kahf ever Jummah is so that, once a week, we are reminding ourselves to be patient with whatever trials and calamities Allah (swt), in all His Wisdom, puts in our path. I've also written about patience before in this post, so check it out if you want to know more about the Qur'an.

May Allah (swt) bless us all with patience in our everyday life, strengthen our imaan with patience so that we may overcome every trial in this life, and reward our patience in the Hereafter. Ameen.

Nida

Ramadan Reveries: Part 2 - Temptation

Dear Reader,

What I wish to share with you today, being first and foremost a reminder to myself, is a conversation in Surah Al-Ar'af (meaning The Elevation - in reference to the raised partition between Heaven and Hell) [7:11-17]:

And We certainly created you [Oh mankind] and have given you [human] form. Then We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam"; so they prostrated, except Iblees (Satan). He was not of those who prostrated.

Allah said "What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?"

Satan said "I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from dirt [earth, clay]." 

Allah said "Descend from Paradise, for it is not for you to be arrogant therein. So get out; indeed you are of the debased." 

Satan said, "Reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected." 

Allah said "Indeed, you are of those reprieved." 

Satan said "Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for mankind on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from in-front of them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful to You."

There are many lessons in this conversation that I could talk about, e.g. the mighty status and honour humans were given when Allah asked the angels to prostrate to Adam, Satan's arrogance being the cause of his down fall, Allah showing mercy to Satan despite his disobedience, or even Satan's determination to get revenge upon Allah by misguiding the ones that Allah loves [i.e. mankind]. But what I really want to discuss today is that last bit, the means by which Satan promises to seek his revenge: "I will surely sit in wait for mankind on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from in-front of them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful to You." 

Living here in "the West" and in this modern age, we are bombarded left, right and centre by lewd images of shamelessness. So much so, that it's now become the norm and we do not think twice when we see a billboard poster of a woman in nothing but her explicit underwear, or even worse... Or a music video with scantly dressed girls draped on the arms of men who treat them like they're nothing more than adornments to their reputation, a price for other men to ogle at and be jealous of, all the while they're scandalously rubbing up against each other. You, dear reader, probably know exactly what I'm talking about. And these things are everywhere: on the TV, in movies, in shops, on the internet, on the streets happening right before our eyes, even in children's cartoons! 

And it's so difficult to avoid all of it, so we don't. Thus, we inevitably become immune to all of it, our hearts slowly hardening ... because it's the "norm". All the while, Satan inconspicuously slides in, whispering temptations. I don't know what it's like for boys/men but I know it's especially difficult trying to be a modest girl in this society: e.g. "This top is so pretty, but a little tighter than what I normally wear. And this skirt, I love its design but its a just a few inches short." "You should buy it, you look so gorgeous wearing them. They suit you, and that colour brings out your eyes." Like my mum always says: once you take that first difficult step towards the devil's path, he makes the rest of your down fall very easy.

So maybe that example doesn't apply to you, dear reader. But the truth is, this capitalist society is solely geared towards material gain. And being inescapably within it, our lives have become geared towards this gain and we are constantly competing with each other in order to increase our wealth. We always complain of the thing we don't have, and set our sights on the fancy cars, the big houses, the jewels and trinkets we want. But how many of us are actually grateful for what we already have? In fact, how many of us are even grateful for just existing? 

So you see, Satan's prediction is coming true: most of us are not grateful to Allah, which is a sad thing indeed. And for those people who are grateful, who are genuinely trying to be Muslims (those who submit completely to God [swt]), Satan has purposefully made following the 'straight and narrow' path difficult for them. Life is a constant struggle, a daily battle against Satan and his temptations. Because we cannot let Satan win or be successful in his revenge against our Lord and Creator. 

Like this cute picture above demonstrates, one of the ways we can shut out Satan is by reading the Qur'an regularly, if not on a daily basis. Talking about Allah (swt) and his messengers with other people also helps. That's because, in an assembly where Allah (swt) is remembered and mentioned, angels descend and envelop the gathered people with their wings, and Allah's mercy is upon those people [Sahih Muslim:1448]. And as for the perverted norms of this Western society, we can start by consciously lowering our gaze, reminding ourselves that the reason why we look away from the shamelessness is Allah, our Creator. The intention behind all our actions is really important, so we have to make sure that our intentions are pure and for the right reason.      

If you, dear reader, want to learn more about Satan and his creation, there is a this lovely short post by a fellow sister.

Nida 

P.S.

Dear Reader,

This a very good video that sums up what I wanted to say in this post, and the reason behind my Ramadan Reveries blog series, in just over 2 minutes. Well worth watching. Take care and Enjoy:



Nida