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Nadir Keval

Life and Its Surprises
Life and Its Surprises 2716 1810 Nadir Keval

This is a tough one to write.

I began writing this with the intent of it being somewhat of a rant that would turn into a learning process for me, but as I did so, I gave it some thought, prayed and made Dua, and realized that it would be best to forgive myself and forgive those of these past few years who have made me angry, frustrated, and disappointed. I have spent the last year or so going through experiences of fluctuating emotions, tests of patience, and changes in the way of how I perceive and interact with people. Yet, despite all of these intense and shattering emotions hurting and breaking me, they have also given me the opportunity to rebuild myself into a stronger man, and have given me more ambition in embracing the Hadith:

“A believer doesn’t get bitten twice from the same lair.” – Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

I won’t go into details about what lead to me realizing the truths that have brought me to the point I’m at now, out of respect for myself, others who have come and gone from my life, those who have remained, and out of trust in Allah, as I believe that the past is in the past, and we should leave it there. Still, I will try to speak on the lessons I have learned during this time, so as to give myself a reminder through which to continue my growth, and to perhaps help any of you that may have experienced difficulties or struggles during your lives.

People

People are truly unpredictable, as their true intentions are unknown to us, and sometimes even to themselves, which can result in them leaving us stranded at the end of our time with them. This applies in any form of relationship (that isn’t secured by being rooted in the hopes to please God, or towards a better good, in my opinion); romantic relationships, friendships, work relationships, family relationships, etc.

Often, we look at the circumstances we face, or see the ways in which our efforts resulted in something other than what we desired or hoped for, and we feel that perhaps, we were the ones who didn’t make enough of an effort, even if we knew that we had given our best towards that relationship. Through this realization, I’ve learned that if we can reflect back on our experiences and relationships, and say that we put our best foot forward, we should be strong enough to walk away from a situation with contentment in knowing that we did our best, and accepting that what happened was because the other person didn’t do their part (the pessimistic approach), or that there’s something better for us that God is reserving us for (the optimistic approach). My personal approach has seemed to linger in a balance between pessimism and optimism, when it comes to matters as these.

Still, in an effort to remain optimistic, I strive to forgive those who have hurt me, betrayed me, or made things difficult for me when better options were available. That group of people includes myself. I recognize that in all that we face, we all play a role, to varying degrees, in which we allowed ourselves to experience what we experienced. That said, one of the first steps towards moving forward is forgiving yourself for your thoughts, actions, etc. and recognizing that what you went through was necessary for you to grow into who you are now.

After doing this, work towards forgiving others. No matter how horrific or painful the things that have been said or done towards you are, forgive. I know this is easier said than done, especially when there is so much emotion involved and invested, especially if it all came unexpectedly, but for your own sake and sanity, you have to let go and forgive. Allah will reward you with something better if you leave something for His Sake. I promise you, it’s better for you.

All of this may take time, but what’s most important is not that you force yourself to forgive and move forward, but rather, that you proactively work towards forgiving yourself and others until your heart can find peace. A key that I’ve found towards doing this is not speaking about the problems, but recognizing that they are of the past, and that they slowly need to be given the opportunity to leave your heart and mind.

A personal example is one of an individual that was very dear and close to me for the last two years, and is no longer a part of my life. That experience left me angry, disappointed, saddened, and confused. But, I chose to turn to Allah, Alhamdulillah, and as time continues to progress, I see more and more reason to understand how that person being a part of life was, in fact, keeping me from fully embracing myself in my life goals, how that person would not help me in the long run towards becoming who I hoped to become, and how I deserved much better in the types of people I allowed into my life. But, that realization only began to come into effect as I left things to Allah. I am still working towards forgiving that person, but I am pleased with how things turned out, because from it, I have learned lessons, and have learned to appreciate others that have entered my life since. So, ultimately, I can say with great conviction and pleasure, Alhamdulillah.

Work

We all go through our struggles when it comes to working hard and reaching our goals, and at times, what we planned doesn’t fall into place. Take it as a blessing. I understand how difficult it can be to let go of something that you’ve worked so long and hard towards, but there comes a point at which you need to reevaluate your approach towards your goals. That doesn’t mean that you should throw aside your goals and work towards things that are more “realistic”, but instead, it just means that you should be open to exploring different ways through which you can reach your goal.

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein

The beauty of living freely towards reaching your goals is that there is no right or wrong answer as to how you can achieve your ambitions. By working hard in the way you see most fit, you will find yourself motivated and inspired. Pray Isthikhaarah (the prayer for guidance) before you start an approach towards your goal, and if you find yourself struggling, pray it again. As long as the ambition towards using that approach remains in your heart with ease, keep at it. But, if you find yourself struggling, and deliberately holding on to something, step away from it, pray Isthikhaarah again, and keep your heart and mind open to other options. Allah will guide you towards what’s best for you.

To give you an example, for the last few years, one of my companies has been building, but I always felt as though something was missing, and that I couldn’t feel a connection to it. I had lost the original vision behind the project, and felt lost. So, I recently detached myself from the old ways of pursuing success in that business, and began to seek guidance from Allah, prayed Isthikhaarah, and took some time away from it all to think about what my vision originally was, and how I wanted to make it a reality in my own way. After some time, it dawned on me, and now, I am happier than ever in how I am approach the services provided by this particular company.

Faith

Ah, the greatest component of one’s life (in my opinion) is this: faith. Without it, I would honestly be a reflection of chaos, scattered thoughts, and depression. The beauty of faith is that it is very natural when you truly submit to it, because you go through ups and downs, and experience an onslaught of emotions and confusion as you battle your soul towards helping it grow. The soul can be very stubborn sometimes, but it is through that, that we grow into becoming stronger in mind and heart.

How does all of this relate to life and its surprises? Well, what I’ve found through the challenges and changes of my relationships with people and my work experiences, is that because the intention was always (to the best of my abilities) to please God, ultimately, EVERYTHING that happened, both the seemingly good and the seemingly bad, ended up bringing me closer to Him. I was surprised to find myself overcoming major challenges in my faith, and it was through His Mercy and Love that I was able to experience those blessings. I can’t express my gratitude to Him for everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen, and I pray that He gives me the opportunity, ability, cognizance, and consciousness to continue to praise Him, thank Him, and remember Him.

In The End…

There is no end. That’s the thing. Even after death, our deeds continue to benefit us. Even after The Day of Judgment, we have an eternity to experience the results of our actions in this life.

Life will throw us surprises through situations and experiences that will baffle us. At times, we will lead ourselves, be it through the whispers and invitations of Shaitaan and others or not, towards paths that will benefit us, as long as we strive towards pleasing Him, and remember that our return is ultimately to Him.

You have to live your life to the fullest and do what makes YOU happiest. Many of us lead lives to please others, in fear that without doing so, we will lose their love or commitment. But, we have to build relationships with those we think make us happiest, we have to pursue our goals that make us happiest, and we can’t accept any less. This is unfortunately a tough and often pushed aside thought for many, but it’s on us to do our best to live as happy of lives as we can. Live to please God and yourself. Everyone else will love you for it, eventually. Be pleased with your life and what it brings, because every experience has its purpose, and every scar has its story.

4 Steps To Become Better Than Your Best You
4 Steps To Become Better Than Your Best You 1280 800 Nadir Keval

How many times throughout elementary school and high school, and maybe even today, do we hear people say, “Be the best you can be!”? I remember seeing those posters and banners all over the place, and felt a great amount of motivation towards becoming a better person. Well, that was the case, until I asked myself the simple question: how exactly am I supposed to do that?

During talks with a few clients and friends lately, I’ve noticed many people struggling with the same question, whether they recognize it or not. It’s both incredible and upsetting to see how many of us negate this aspect of our lives as being of crucial importance because we’re too busy living up to norms or expectations, or because we don’t really know how much we are truly worth.

“Live your life striving to become the best you can be. Then, once you’ve become the best, become better.”

Define Your Goals

Often, because of the situations or circumstances we’re in (whether we put ourselves there, or were coerced into doing so in some way or the other), we lose focus on our goals and visions. Just the other night, I asked a couple in their 40-50’s about what their goals were in life and if they ever accomplished them. One responded saying that she had a dream but never followed through because she didn’t think she would be able to succeed, and because “life got in the way”. The other said that he never really had a dream or goal, because it was just about living every day with the hopes of survival. Now, if he lived in a place where survival was a daily struggle because of war, famine, disease, or anything like that, I would commend him for having achieved his goal of survival. But, he has lived the majority of his life in a comfortable setting, and in a place that hasn’t been hit with any of those tragedies. Hearing him say that he lived a life without goals or dreams saddened me, and the first words that came out my mouth were, “A person with dreams is a person simply existing. He hasn’t even lived yet.” And his response, with an expression of disappointment and submission, was simply, “I know. That’s my life.”

This is a condition that I don’t want to see any of you being in. And if you feel you are already in that state, then it’s time to make some changes, and develop some goals. It is NEVER too late to set goals and to have dreams.

Ask yourself what kinds of things interest you, and what impact you want to leave on the world. It’s about leaving behind a legacy. When I say that, I don’t mean that you should go out and make some major project or anything like that. Some may want that, but some may just want to open up a small coffee shop, or some may just want to learn how to speak a specific language. Goals are personal, and in no way are they limited to the expectations and limitations of others or of “reality”.

Recognize Your Potential

“Being realistic is one of the most commonly travelled roads to mediocrity.” – Will Smith

Truth be told, this is exactly what it is that holds people back from achieving their potential. We apply limitations on ourselves by thinking “realistically”, but had it not been for people thinking beyond reality, we wouldn’t have things like light bulbs, airplanes, or elevators. Think about it. Had it not been for the inventors of these innovations thinking outside of what was considered truth, we would be sitting in candlelight, would take weeks/months (I googled it) to travel from Vancouver, BC to Toronto, ON by foot/horseback/car instead of the 4-5 hours it takes by plane, and imagine getting to your apartment on the 15th floor of your building every single day without an elevator…you’d be in ridiculously great shape, but you’d be furious if you walked all the way down the stairs of your building only to later remember that you forgot the stove on.

Life is filled with blessings of innovation and creativity, and it’s upon us to determine how far we go with that. Your goals and ambitions are your own, and so, no one (besides God – i.e. if it’s haram or forbidden, let it go) can tell you how to address them. I believe we ALL have potential to be great, but what makes the great differ from the rest is that they are willing to put in the work and effort, whereas the rest are busy being satisfied with “just enough”. Live your life in a way that is focused around you thriving – not just surviving.

Write It Out

One of the things that has truly helped me in working towards and achieving my goals has been writing them down. I know it sounds like something minute, and you may think to yourself, “I’ll just keep it in my mind,” but honestly, it helps. In a day, we think about so many different things, that running the risk of losing your brilliant idea or your profound thought is just not worth it. In addition to being helpful in that sense, writing out your thoughts also helps in reminding you of your passions, your goals, and what lead you to choosing to aspire towards those ambitions. Far too often, we get swept up in the ups and downs of life that we forget what it was that inspired us towards doing things in the first place. Writing these things down helps you when you start to lose focus.

When writing down your goals, try to break them down into long-term and short-term goals as well, to give yourself milestones to reach on your path towards accomplishing your ultimate goal. Doing this will inspire you and help you to stay motivated on your path towards fulfilling your dreams. This too may seem like an insignificant thing, but I assure you that it works wonders and helps immensely!

What I personally do, is look at the things I’ve written down about the visions behind my projects, and the short-term and long-term goals I have for each one. Then, I start my day by setting daily goals on what I hope to accomplish for the day for each project.

Take Action

“We will not change the condition of a people until they change that which is within themselves.” – Quran (13:11)

This is perhaps the hardest, yet most difficult step in this process. Often, we have an incredible plan or idea, or we have goals that would inspire even the most successful of people, but we delay or even give up on following through because we fear taking that first step. We over-think and over-plan everything to the point that we end up scattering the thoughts in our minds, and ultimately just lose who we are and what made us aspire towards our goals.

Get the ball rolling by just starting. Seriously, JUST START. I know, its easier said than done, but it’s important to take that leap of faith and learn to fly as you go along. Every morning, look at your list of goals, and promise yourself that you will do SOMETHING today towards fulfilling that goal. Even if you fail that day, try again the next day. What’s most important is that you keep trying until your goal becomes a part of you. An example would be something like overcoming an addiction, or making prayer a part of your life, or trying to get in shape. Wake up every day with the intention of taking a step towards making progress towards your goals. No matter how many times you fall, get back up and keep trying. Some goals may be easy to fulfill, and others may take years, or even a lifetime, but the key is to never stop trying.

If there is a change you want to see, be proactive in becoming better. Don’t let the limitations of norms and realities hold you back from reaching the heights of your potential. The beauty of your potential is that its height depends on your efforts – the more you strive towards becoming better, the better you will become. Fight laziness, and tell those voices in your head that are making excuses for you to shut up, because you’ve got the potential to become better, and you have no intention of letting anything or anyone hold you back!

“Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.” – Paul Brandt

Poem: My Miracle
Poem: My Miracle 1280 720 Nadir Keval

This morning is like any other morning,
except for this one minor difference.
Today, I am a husband.
Today, I have a wife.

I wake to seeing you,
and I feel every worry fade,
like the aura that radiates from you,
is to bring light to the darkness I have lived in
throughout my every day.

Suddenly, you open your eyes,
and smile at me,
like I’m a lost love,
that you’ve once again recognized.
At that moment, you whisper,
“Assalaamu alaikum Love,”
wishing that peace be upon me.
Yet, you have no idea,
how you truly have,
brought peace to every part of who I am,
bringing me to life with your serenity.

I think of the moment I first saw you,
How you would be enthralled by your books,
and would make faces at the pages,
out of confusion or excitement over what you had just read.
I smiled, and felt inclined,
to pray and ask the Divine,
if you would be best for me in this and the Next lifetime.

I asked about you,
spoke to our mutual friends,
and found that you had every detail,
of what I sought.
A woman focused and driven,
yet playful and innocent.
A woman decisive and inspired,
by her faith above all else.
A woman so keen on living clean,
that every aspect of your life was motivation,
To be better than I am.
And that’s when I knew,
you were the one I wanted.

You are a blessing,
a reflection of everything that was always missing,
from the others in the past,
though I would be convinced that they would last.
You were pure, and human,
which made you so perfectly balanced.
And so I prayed and prayed,
that if we were to be,
that He would bring us together with ease.

Not too long after,
I was speaking to your father,
asking him if he would allow,
for a man as simple as me,
to have the hand in marriage
of a princess waiting to be queen.

He was pleased,
which truly surprised me,
as I had only experienced obstacles
in circumstances as these.
But instead, he told me,
that he would be honoured
to have a son like me.

And here we are today.
As husband and wife.
Though we have only been together a moment,
compared to the lifetime of moments we hope to share,
I feel blessed and enchanted,
to have witnessed a miracle,
as Allah brought our hearts together,
without fuss having any chance to muster.
And for that, I will say,
“Thank You, Allah,
For making her my wife,
today and every day.”

Copyright © Nadir Keval
 
Note: I’ve been getting a lot of people congratulating me on getting married after reading this poem, but it’s actually a reflection of what I hope to experience when I DO get married in the future, insha Allah (God-willing) – NOT a reflection of something I’ve already experienced. So, thank you for the well-wishes and compliments, but I’m not married just yet 😛

Poem: The Greatest Thing
Poem: The Greatest Thing 2000 1331 Nadir Keval

I may cross your mind at times,
and you may wonder how I am.
After all I’ve been through,
it may seem as though I would be broken.
But the truth is,
all that I am,
all I hope to be,
is a result of all I’ve taken and all I’ve seen.

It took more out of me than I had expected.
Time and time again,
I would fight,
and would be left alone.
And if I would walk taller,
one or another would find a way to make me feel,
feel like a failure.

But, failure,
ah, how beautiful it is,
As it has made me who I am today.
My failures have been my greatest blessings.
They have made me stronger, powerful.
Seemingly invincible.

My humanity is all that restrains me
from becoming a beast.
My faith is all that maintains me
from becoming a reflection of sorrow.
How beautiful it is to be a mosaic of shattered pieces,
than to be plain glass of one view.
Through the different pieces of me,
I have developed into a variety.

I am thankful and grateful,
for all that I have faced.
For the times my heart has been broken,
despite giving my all to be the best man I could be;
For when I have felt that my goals and dreams,
would remain as nothing more than a fantasy;
For when I would be surrounded by naysayers,
who seemed to be determined to ruin me;
For all these experiences,
I am left with no grievances.
Instead, I reflect,
and look at who and what I’ve lost,
and learn that through losing,
I have gained the greatest thing…
I have gained me.

Copyright © Nadir Keval

Poem: Perfect Progress
Poem: Perfect Progress 1130 928 Nadir Keval

We are not created to be perfect.
We are created to be tested,
To be scarred and to heal,
To make mistakes and to learn,
To fall and to get back up.

It is we who are reliant upon the Creator,
Not Him upon us.
As we cannot heal, learn, or get back up,
Unless we fully submit to Him.

Much as a diamond is made under pressure,
We are placed under the utmost care,
As we are tested and put through struggle,
To eventually become stronger and more rare.

Much as a painter seeks out perfecting intricate details,
In the same way, should we treat our lives.
There will always remain space for improvement,
But we must try our best to get close to perfection.
The minute details may seem unimportant,
Or like too tedious or difficult a task to bother,
But without them,
Every painting would be the same.

Look not to God in agony,
Asking for reasons to your misery.
Instead, look to yourself to see,
That your choices brought you to where you are.
Don’t mope on the past,
But forgive yourself instead.
And from here onwards,
Turn to Him and you will find clarity.
And when the pressure builds,
And the details reveal themselves,
You will only be grateful,
On the condition that you have truly submitted to Him.
Things will be difficult.
You may fall more than you stand.
But know that you are not created to achieve perfection.
You are created for progression in constantly striving to please and worship Him.

Copyright © Nadir Keval

Escape Your Inner Prison
Escape Your Inner Prison 1920 1200 Nadir Keval

This is a concept and topic that I’ve noticed a lot recently, during my mentoring sessions, and in the lives of the people I care for. We are so often compelled to make decisions towards what will suffice our current conditions, instead of pursuing what we want. We’re okay with settling with “just enough” because we’re not willing to put in the extra work to follow through on our dreams and on what our hearts truly want. This is truly a depressing condition to be in, and eventually, it will eat away at you. I know this sounds harsh, but it’s a true reality that I’ve experienced myself.

For years, I lived my life following things by the book; go to school for the degree everyone wants me to get but I’m not at all passionate about, go to work to make money even if you hate your job, listen to your elders without ever asking questions, do everything you can to make others happy. Through all of that time, there was always one major thing missing: my own happiness. It began to eat away at me, and I began to resent those people who encouraged and pushed me towards doing those things, even though I knew that their intentions were good and sincerely because they believed it to be what was best for me. Sometimes, I even resented those who were simply a result of or a part of that life, even if they had no role to play in making the decisions I made to please others over myself. I had convinced myself that I was doing the right thing, when deep down, my heart couldn’t let go of what I truly wanted, despite the fact that I didn’t even completely know or understand what it was I wanted, because I had never put myself first.

Don’t get me wrong. At first, I loved everything I was doing, because it made everyone happy, and I felt comfortable and content with that. But, as time progressed, things changed. Not externally, but internally. Externally, everything was the same, and I had as much reason to be happy then as I did when I began working towards the happiness of others. But internally, I felt like I was dying. I felt like my soul was being ripped away from me. I felt as though I was no longer my own person, with dreams, ambitions, and a sincere smile. Instead, I was like a robot, living for others because it was what seemed to be the easier and smarter way out.

That’s when someone gave me some advice that changed it all: “You have to be selfish when it comes to your happiness, but you have to seek out that selfish happiness through pleasing Allah in everything you do. Please Him, and the others around you will be pleased with you. Displease Him, and not only will He be displeased with you (which is scary enough as it is), but those people will in fact never be pleased with you. Focus on Allah’s Pleasure and seeking out your happiness, and He will handle the people around you. This concept is based on the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW). The point is, you have to account for your own happiness and the decisions you make. Ten years from now, if you look back at your life, you want to feel the sense of contentment and satisfaction in knowing that you did what made you happiest. You don’t want to be resenting your parents for insisting on you choosing the career you did. You don’t want to resent your spouse for not living up to the kind of person you wanted to marry. You don’t want to resent your parents, siblings, or friends for the decisions YOU made. Ultimately, on the Day of Judgment, YOU will have to answer for your decisions, and you can’t pass that blame on to anyone else. If you are unhappy, it’ll lead to misery, and the one we know to be most miserable is Shaitaan. And as we know, misery loves company. Personal happiness is a major part of Islam, because when you are happy, you are more satisfied with life, and when you are more satisfied with life, you’re more inclined to be grateful to Allah, and more inclined to do things that will please Him. Being happy doesn’t come easy. It takes hard work. The world is filled with content people, but very few are truly happy, because very few are willing to put in the work, pain, suffering, difficulty, and struggle it takes to truly be happy. As they say, ‘Nothing worth having in life comes easy,’ so you have to ask yourself if the actions you take and the decisions you make will truly make you happy in the future, and if it will help you in fulfilling all of your dreams and ambitions. Don’t settle for anything less than what you want, as long as it’s halal. The people around you, your family and friends (if they truly love you and care about you), simply want one thing for you: to see you happy. So, follow your dreams, don’t settle for less than what you want, and surround yourself with those who will help you make every single one of those dreams a reality. The people who truly love you and care about you will not only understand, but they’ll be happy for you as well. You have to put in every ounce of your being into your dreams and passions, be it towards your career, school, the person you’ll marry, your health…everything! What comes from your efforts is in Allah’s Hands, but you have to do your part by not resting until you get what you want.”

During these times, I was afraid that I would upset my family, or that I would hurt the people I love and care about, or that I would lose all of my friends. But, I decided that I would trust in Allah and do my best to fulfill my dreams and goals. I knew that He wouldn’t overburden me with anything in life, and that my solutions will come through pleasing Him. The process was difficult. I upset family members, friends became distant, and I was constantly reminded of how I was a disgrace for taking the steps I took. For once in my life, I truly did something just for me, and it upset almost everyone because they expected me to never do anything outside of what they wanted. These people included those closest to me and those I hardly even spoke to, amongst both family and friends. They would try to make me feel bad by showing me how hurt they were, or by distancing themselves from me. They would try to use the love I had for them towards doing what made them happy. They may have thought that they were doing what it took to make me happy, but it was doing the complete opposite. They didn’t fully understand how important it was to my sanity and survival in the future, for me to do what made me happiest. It was a major struggle, perhaps the greatest struggle of my life thus far, but it made me who I am today: strong, confident, focused, determined, ambitious, and ultimately, happy. Alhamdulillah.

Today, I look back and have no regrets. And all those people who were upset with me? Well, some drifted away, others stayed (including my direct family, and quite literally 2-3 friends), but that was fine with me because it meant that I had filtered out the cream of the crop when it came to the companions I had in life. Sure, since making that decision, I have gone through more downtimes than up, but ultimately, I felt good knowing that I worked hard towards my dreams and ambitions, and that the decisions I made were to please Allah and to fulfill my own happiness. I look back and realize that I wasn’t being selfish. I was doing what I needed to do in order to truly be happy, because it’s only when I’m truly happy that I can be at my best for those I love, and can live life without any resentment towards anyone.

So, take a look at your life. Look at the decisions you are making or have made. No matter how far along you’ve come with that decision, ask yourself if you’re truly doing this for yourself and Allah, and if what you’re doing will help you towards fulfilling your dreams. If you want to get into medical school, work hard towards it and don’t rest until you’re in medical school. If you want to get married, solidify yourself as an individual and marry that person who will help you fulfill all of your dreams and ambitions, and settle for nothing less than that. If you have any goal or dream, do not rest until you get it, and then once you do, set an even bigger goal.

Now, I won’t tell you that this is all easy. It will perhaps be the most excruciatingly difficult thing you will ever do. But you HAVE TO follow through on your dreams and what makes you happiest. Don’t make that happiness dependent on the happiness of others, because you can’t rely on others to help you survive. Happiness is a major component of survival. You may live the most lavish life, but if you aren’t happy, it will always be a unrelenting source of depression until you make a change.

“Do what is required of you, and remain a slave. Do more than what is required of you, and become free.” – Marcus Garvey

Don’t worry about those around you, or who you feel will be influenced or hurt by your decisions or actions. Do what makes YOU happy. Cut everyone else out of the equation. What makes YOU happy? How can YOU fulfill YOUR dreams? Don’t rest until YOU get that internal happiness. Don’t let others determine YOUR happiness. The people who truly care about you will be happy just knowing that you’re happy. Sure, they might be upset for a little while, but as time progresses and they see how happy you are, they’ll be happier for you than you are for yourself.

This is honestly such an important idea and concept to understand, that I can’t express it in enough words, and I’m not sure if I’ve even touched the tip of the iceberg in expressing how huge of a component this is to you living happily in life. Happily ever after exists, but people think it’s a fairytale because they fail to recognize that there are a lot of bridges to cross, trolls to outwit, and dragons to slay, in order to achieve it.

Poem: Peace
Poem: Peace 1600 1063 Nadir Keval

Have you ever met a man truly at peace?
He lives a life one would pray to avoid,
but would also envy because of the ease in which he dwells?
This man is a rarity,
as he has tasted true faith,
and through that, has found peace.

What a beautiful state this is!
To be able to soar through the fog of life,
and find vision in the darkest of nights.
To find comfort in knowing that He will suffice,
because it is God Himself that brings about the calm,
when tested and faced with the greatest of storms.
This is always the case,
but until one has tasted true faith,
he will never see this,
and thus, will never find peace.

Through simplicity and conviction,
sincerity and ambition,
one can become amongst the most peaceful of men.
But this is a condition that comes with its conditions,
as it takes little time to recognize His Plan and Attributes,
but sometimes a lifetime to act on that recognition.
To be peaceful requires internal bliss,
a state of mind that comes only through faith.
And to have faith is a test of faith,
so overcome it knowing that He will never overburden you.

The world will push you,
the people will confuse you,
but you must not rest,
until you have found peace.
A lifelong journey,
but one worth every step.
Because, as long as your pursue it,
you will be at peace,
until the day arrives when all that will survive of this,
is the wishes of people that you rest in peace.

Copyright © Nadir Keval

Belief In The Unseen
Belief In The Unseen 1186 768 Nadir Keval

In the last couple of days, some thoughts and reminders have come to mind that have definitely made it easier to deal with all of the things that I’ve been facing lately, Alhamdulillah. I felt that it would be good to share this with all of you, not only for your own personal struggles, but in consideration of the horrifying things happening in Gaza right now. May Allah grant them peace, victory, and an easy entrance into Jannah! Ameen!

A friend of mine, who is currently attending one of the major Islamic universities of the world, masha Allah, told me about the story of Musa (AS) and his people, when Allah commanded them to go towards the waterfront. He explained how this was a command from Allah in response to their Dua for peace and freedom, and as a way in which Allah was protecting AND testing the people. However, Allah had only commanded that they go to the waterfront, and didn’t give them any information about what to do when they got there. With their faith and reliance on Allah, they headed towards the water. When they got there, Allah was silent. My friend explained how this was Allah’s way of testing them in their patience, as well as in their reliance upon Him. He had them wait and continued this test for so long, that Firawn (Pharoah) and his army became visible in the distance. This was when the major test began. The people of Musa (AS) began to panic. They asked Musa (AS), “Where is our Rubb (Lord)? Where is the answer to our prayers? We are surely going to be killed at the hands of Firawn! Survival is completely impossible!” At this point, Musa (AS), unaltered by these concerns responded saying, “I do not believe in what I see, but I believe in the Unseen (i.e. Allah).” It was at this point that Musa (AS) passed the test, and thus Allah sent down the order to him (AS) that he should strike the ground with his staff. From there on, we know the story of how the body of water split, and the believers were blessed with freedom.

Note: This story is one that I asked a local sheikh here in Vancouver about (for confirmation of its authenticity), and he said that the details are uncertain, but this is one of those stories that we accept and don’t accept, meaning that we take it as a story of morals and lessons, but do not use it for making rulings on matters.

Imagine yourself being in the position of the people of Musa (AS). Would you have reacted in the same way they initially did? Or would you have reacted in the way Musa (AS) did? Many of us face major struggles and difficulties in life, some more than others, but ultimately, we all face what Allah knows we are capable of handling. Never will Allah burden us with more than we can bear, as He states in the Quran:

“Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned.” – Quran (2:286)

Struggles will come and go, sometimes as tests, sometimes as punishments. Regardless, they are blessings in disguise. If we overcome and hold strong to our faith, repent, and try our best to become better Muslims, Allah will reward us. Allahu Akbar! How Merciful and Incredible Allah is! Who else do you know that would punish us and then reward us right after for handling the punishment properly? No one but Allah! And sometimes, we may wonder, if He has forgiven us, then why are we being punished? The truth is, we will all be held accountable for our actions, and unless it is by the Blessing of Allah that He forgives us of it completely, it’s a Mercy from Him upon us that He punishes us in this life rather than in the Next. Be thankful for that, and take responsibility for your past actions, but do not let this pull you down or make you lose hope in Him. Instead, build on your faith and become stronger in your certainty that He will answer your Dua. Often, we start on the a path that is pleasing to Him, or set goals that would be beneficial to us in this life and the Next, but our desires and the whispers of Shaitaan lead us astray. That doesn’t invalidate our initial goals and intentions. It merely means that we have to get back on track in our faith and worship, and turn to Allah with complete conviction and cognizance that He will grant us what we seek.

Intentions & Actions

When we are faced with struggles or challenges, we have to take a moment to stop and think about how we’re approaching the issue. Our intentions may be pure, but if our actions don’t match that purity, it’ll be incredibly difficult to find success or peace. Looking at how Musa (AS) dealt with the situation, we can see that he maintained his faith and reliance on Allah, regardless of how impossible the situation seemed. Often, when we see ourselves in a predicament that seems to have no possible end in our favor, being human, we panic. We forget Allah because our emotions overcome us, and sometimes, we even go as far as blaming Allah, thinking that He has not fulfilled His Promise. What a horrible state of mind to be in! Allah is never to blame for the things that happen to us in this life or the Next. As the above verse mentioned, every soul will bear the consequences of the good it has gained and of the evil it has gained. Take responsibility for your actions, and remain steadfast on pleasing Allah in every possible way you can.

Make your eyes look at only that which pleases Allah, make your ears hear only that which pleases Allah, make your hands and feet work only in the path of that which pleases Allah. When you do this, your living will be for the sake of Allah. Every aspect of your life will become a form of worship. Through this, you will gain the love of Allah, insha Allah, and when Allah loves us, He will answer our Dua, will protect us when we seek His Refuge, and will not hesitate to grant us what we seek, just as He hesitates to take our souls at the time of death, because He knows how much we detest death. Our struggles may all be different, but that does not demean their weight on our hearts. I assure you that if we turn to Allah and truly submit to Him, we will find our hearts to become light in weight, and we will find ease in dealing with our difficulties.

Dedication to Dua

If you have been making Dua with sincerity, and have strived towards pleasing Allah in every way you can while you await the answer to your Dua, then don’t lose hope. As we saw from the example of the story of Musa (AS) and his people, Allah can bring us a solution through things that seem impossible, as long as we have faith. It does not matter what obstacles come our way, or what we see around us that may make things seem impossible. None of that matters. What matters is our submission to Allah and dedication to our Dua. One of the prerequisites of Dua being answered is knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that your Dua will be answered. When you have supplicated to Allah, don’t stop asking for what you want until you get it, or until Allah removes it from your heart and mind, or replaces it with something else. You will know when one of those three things has happened when Allah gives you complete ease, serenity, and certainty in the matter, and where you are to go from there. If you are confused as to what the answer is, ask Him for clarity and guidance again. No matter the circumstances, no matter how impossible it may seem for your dua to be answered, do NOT stop asking Allah for what you seek. And while you do this, ensure that every step you take towards addressing it is in the way that is most pleasing to Allah. Sometimes, that means keeping your distance from the matter, and focusing solely on dua and perfecting your actions in the other aspects of life. Sometimes, it means doing things that have been prescribed by Allah and His Messenger (SAW) as steps to take, which all depend on the specific situation you are in. What matters most, however, is that you never give up on what you seek from Allah until He makes things clear for you in your heart in such a way that you don’t even feel as though you are forcing or convincing yourself to take any action that goes against your heart. Sometimes, we are so afraid of pain, or of displeasing others, or of having to continue in difficulty, that we accept things that we don’t fully like, just to be able to move forward. But that won’t solve our problem, but rather will simply postpone and make it heavier, thus making it even more difficult to address in the future. It’s simple: Don’t lose hope in Allah answering your dua. Ever.

“Make Dua like a child asks his parent’s for candy. The child doesn’t stop asking until he gets his candy.”

Things may seem difficult, things may seem impossible, and sometimes, people around you will say things to make you want to lose hope, but remember that hope lies with Allah, and no one else. He Alone is the One capable of doing all things, and from what He has decreed, no one can escape, whether what is decreed seems to be good or bad to us. Even if you feel like you are trapped or stuck in a situation, have faith and hope in Him, and strive towards what you truly want, asking Him to make things work out with all of the eternal factors that may effect your decisions. He will give you that strength, and will grant you the goal you seek for His sake. You just can’t give up on Him, no matter how difficult it gets. Our goal is to continue to stay firm in our faith in Him, and to not stop making dua for what we want, until we get what we seek, or it is removed, or is replaced by something else.

Seeking An Answer

One of the things I hear so often that truly bothers me is when people say, “Maybe this is Allah’s way of answering your Dua,” or, “Maybe this is a sign from Allah.” I’m not a scholar, but from what I understand, that’s not how it works! Allah guides us, and when we seek something, He makes the results clear. If you are making Dua for something, and are sincere in your intentions AND actions, Allah will give you clarity in the matter at hand. Until you feel that clarity in your heart, don’t stop making Dua for what you want. We shouldn’t have to convince ourselves of something being the answer to our Dua, because when we do that, it is almost as though we have given up on Allah answering our Dua, though He has promised us that He will give us peace and a solution to what we seek for His sake. This is something that is a tough concept to grasp, especially in today’s world, where we are tested left, right, and center. In the end, we have to remember that Allah has promised us that if we strive towards a goal and still find difficulty, BUT have awareness of Him and His Abilities, and keep in mind that we will have to answer for our actions on the Day of Judgment, He will grant us a solution through means that we could not have even imagined. He ALWAYS fulfills His Promise. He is the Provider, and the One who grants us what we need to move forward with our lives day in and day out. We should also keep in mind that He has decreed a time for everything. You may see things and think to yourself that the solution just seems so easy. But, I promise you that you won’t even be able to reach out to touch something in front of you until Allah decrees it. What is meant for you will be yours, no matter what. You just have to remain steadfast in seeking what you want. Allah will guide you towards what you want, or will replace it through ease and clarity with something better.

“That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allah and the Last day. And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out; And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.” – Quran (65:2-3)

There may be times when you’ll look at your situation and feel as though something you experience is the answer to your Dua. If, however, you don’t feel in your heart, after pursuing things for the sake of Allah and in a way that pleases Him, that you have clarity on the matter, then seek His Guidance again. Often, we see something happening and feel it to be the answer to our Dua (though we may not fully like it), but that could very well be a test from Allah to see how committed and reliant upon Him we truly are.

Don’t go out looking for a sign. Don’t go out thinking that Allah’s going to send some miracle from the sky for you to see. Stuff like that happens once in a blue moon, if ever.

Instead, cleanse your heart of things that displease Allah, and replace them with worship and remembrance of Him in your every thought and action, and repent frequently. We sin so much, just by being human, that it’s impossible to calculate how much we need to repent. But, it’s on us to do everything we can to increase our good deeds and reduce our sins. Through this, Allah will give us clarity in our hearts, and when there is something we are meant to see, or there is something we are meant to feel, it will be something He will place in our view or in our hearts. And when we live life in this way, I guarantee you that we will find a level of peace and serenity that is beyond our imagination, because at that point, we will have truly tasted the beauty of faith. At that point, we will finally be able to be grateful when any and every thing comes our way, because we will accept it all as Allah’s decree for us. He knows our hearts and thoughts better than we do, and so He won’t leave us stranded. Another very important thing to note is that accepting Allah’s Decree does not mean having to do so out of sorrow or difficulty. Allah gives us peace with dealing with things, no matter how difficult they are, if that is what is best for us. If your heart feels uneasy, make a change through first seeking guidance from Allah, and then acting on your heart’s inclination.

How Does This Relate To Gaza or Syria?

I am not a Palestinian or Syrian. I am not an Arab. I don’t even fully speak Arabic, yet (insha Allah, soon). But, I share a bond with the people of Gaza and Syria that runs deeper than any bond of blood, nationality, language, culture, or anything else for that matter. This bond makes me feel as though I am one with them, as though they are no different to me than my own parents and siblings. The bond I share with them is of Islam. Islam abolished the concept of nationality, racism, and things like that, because under the banner of Islam we are all brothers and sisters. We are all Muslims. When I hear the screams of mothers and wives as they hold the bodies of their men, as I hear the cries of children as they watch their parents die in front of their eyes, and when I see the blood of innocent men, women, and children being shed as clear as rain, I don’t see their nationality or language. I see humanity in shambles. I weep for the innocent Muslims and non-Muslims alike, who are killed in the state of war.

As nothing more than a Muslim, which is a greater honor in my eyes than any other, I look at these things, and humbly believe that our solution lies in first turning to Allah. It is ONLY through Him that success will come. And it is a duty upon every Muslim to feel concern and to pray for those who have been trapped in what seems to be an impossible situation to find release from. But, we must remember the story of Musa (AS) and his people.

Relating to the story of Musa (AS), I want to remind us of the fact that though things may seem completely impossible, and though the blood of our brothers and sisters flows constantly, we cannot lose hope in Allah. We cannot forget that our greatest weapon is Dua, supplicating to Allah to grant them victory and to reward them with an easy entrance into the highest levels of Jannah. This can be just as was the case with Musa (AS) and his people, where a tyrant (Pharoah) approached them viciously with a huge and fully armed army, while they had nothing to defend themselves with, and still Allah granted them success. Why? Because they learned to be steadfast in their faith in Him, and they knew that Allah would grant them success and the answer to their prayers. Let us be like Musa (AS) and stand firm in knowing that we believe not in what we see, but rather, believe in the Unseen. Allah is capable of all things, and He has promised us victory for patience and for complete submission to Him. If Allah has made us a promise, what reason do we have to doubt? Remember:

“For those of you who have Allah as your Helper, there is no one that can overcome you; but if He removes His Help from you, who is there that can help you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely.” – Quran (3:160)

There are so many other examples of how Allah has brought victory to the righteous when victory seemed like a far-fetched impossibility. An example of this is the Battle of Badr, where the Muslims were few and the enemies were almost three times the number of Muslims. Still, Allah helped the Muslims and granted them success. Read up on this battle and you’ll see how incredibly relatable and inspiring it is, especially in a situation like our brothers and sisters in Gaza are facing.

Allah has a purpose behind everything that happens. I know it sounds cliche because of how often we hear people using this statement as a way to push aside or accept giving up on remaining steadfast in their conviction in Allah’s Provision, but it is a true fact. It may seem as though things are difficult, or it may seem as though things seem impossible, but we know without a doubt that Allah will answer our Dua when the time is right. During this process, we will surely go through tests to see if we truly rely on Him, but it is at that point that we should consider it a blessing from Him and an opportunity to grow stronger in faith, by remaining steadfast and not losing hope in Him answering our Dua.

As we go on through our days, let us constantly be in a state of remembrance of Allah, and let us not give up on making Dua that Allah grants us what we seek. Let us build on our own faith as individuals, so that our prayers are more likely to be answered. Let us put aside the negativity and pessimism of others, and remain steadfast on our faith that our Dua will be answered, regardless of how many obstacles and difficulties come our way. The people of Gaza, Syria, and all of the others around the world that are unjustly being harmed in any way and to any degree will find success, as this is promised by Allah, on the condition that they stay firm and strong in their faith in Him.

If you want to see change in Gaza, Syria, or in your own life, go above and beyond the basics when it comes to making Dua. Wake up for Tahajjud and make Dua. Pray extra Nawafil (voluntary acts of worship) and make Dua. When you are in Sujood (prostration), make dua. Right before you end your Salah (prayer) and say the Tasleem (what is said to end the prayer), make Dua. Right after completing your Fard (obligatory) portion of a Salah, make Dua. When it rains, or there are harsh winds, make Dua. Fast on Mondays and Thursdays [as is the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW)] or fast every other day [as is the Sunnah of Prophet Dawud (AS)], and make dua right before breaking your voluntary fast. These are just a handful of times that the Prophet (SAW) has said sincere Dua will be answered, so take advantage of them! Do everything you can to show Allah your sincerity and dedication to having your Dua answered!

I pray that Allah grants the people of Gaza, Syria, and other parts of the world, justice, peace, victory, and the highest reward for their patience and steadfastness. I pray that Allah fills their hearts and minds with unrelenting hopes to please Allah in every way, and that He fulfills those hopes by guiding them in their actions. I am certain that victory will come. Let us remain patient, continue to make dua, help in every way we possibly can (within the bounds of what is permitted in Islam), and continue to hold certainty in knowing that Allah will allow only the best to come from all of this. Ameen.

And as for all of us, who go through our own struggles and seemingly-impossible dilemmas in our day-to-day lives, I pray that Allah gives us ease and success in following our hearts, and in making every aspect of our lives acts of worship, so that our hearts will be inclined towards what pleases Him, and so that we can find clarity through undying efforts in making Dua for what we seek until we get it. Ameen.

The Inevitable Reminder
The Inevitable Reminder 1440 787 Nadir Keval

Subhanallah…this week has been somewhat beyond my comprehension. The week began with facing an incredible opportunity to pursue major advancements with one of my goals, wherein things would change completely, hopefully allowing for me to pursue more opportunities at expansion and development, while also finding more time for myself. This was definitely a blessing in disguise, because I knew that in order to make this a reality, I would have to work beyond my levels of comfort. I would have to break barriers of my own routine in order to achieve success with this endeavour. So, being confused and unsure as to what to do, I prayed Isthikhaarah (prayer for seeking guidance in a particular matter) and asked Allah to guide me. The next morning, I was overwhelmed with zeal and confidence in the best approach to take, and went ahead with that pursuit, Alhamdulillah. I took the step, and asked Allah to make it beneficial for me, and to guide me in the matter. That if it is good for me and my livelihood in this life and the Hereafter, then to allow it to happen successfully soon and with ease, and if in His Infinite Wisdom and Knowledge, He found it to not be good for me and livelihood in this life and the Hereafter, then to remove it from my heart and provide me with a better solution and path soon and with ease. I did this because to my understanding, it’s the steps the Prophet (SAW) took during the time of the Battle of Badr, as a reflection of what Tawaqqul is. Alhamdulillah, taking these steps truly did help, as I found solace in knowing that I had done whatever I could (to the best of my knowledge) to do things right by Allah, and to have followed the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW). Now, I patiently await Allah’s Decree, to see what He has in store for me, insha Allah.

Not too long afterwards, I began to find a little bit of discomfort with one of the things I was working on for one of my companies, and was completely unsure as to what to do. I worked at it, made dua, and am slowly coming around to recognizing what it is that I have to do. The thing with running companies is that there is ALWAYS something new coming into the picture, and there is rarely an opportunity to step away for a long period of time, especially when your company is just starting out. Though this company has been around for a year or two, it’s still a baby, and like all babies, needs to be watched, attended to, guided, and disciplined, all in ways that will benefit it in its future. And so, I will now be continuing in my efforts towards building these goals and taking the steps needed to reach my ultimate vision for this company. Thing is, that vision might even change. Allah knows best.

In addition to this, I have been so busy, I haven’t had the chance to really stick to my workouts, or even eat properly for that matter. I’ll have maybe one real meal a day, and would just sip on water or munch on fruit, or something like that throughout the day. And those are days I’d consider to be the days I’d eat a lot by my current routine. But, alhamdulillah, I’ve had the opportunity to make the most of this by fasting on alternating days (as is the Sunnah of Prophet Dawud), and it’s really helped me in my Imaan.

Speaking of Imaan, it’s been quite the roller coaster ride. I’ve actually been meaning to write an article on that, about how our Imaan fluctuates constantly, because this is in our nature as humans. I remembered that, at times, Allah allows us to sin so that we can return to Him in worship and repentance. I remember once reading about how Allah breaks us at times, so that we can rebuild ourselves and return to Him stronger than we were before. Allahu Akbar! What a mercy and blessing!

Throughout this week, these things filled my mind and ran laps around my sanity. I was constantly thinking about all of these things, and became numb to them. So much so that I felt like a man who had suddenly become blind, because I had almost felt a loss of  knowing where I was or where I needed to go. I struggled to get to this next point, to be honest, but I had to fight my displacement and work my way towards Salah, regardless of how much of urge I had to just give up. As I write this, I feel my heart beginning to shake and my eyes becoming watery, because I remember how, while in Sujood (prostration), I had realized that I was struggling because my faith was weakening. I worked hard towards making a change, and fell more times than I stood, but I refused to accept any less than the best from myself and from my faith in Allah. I knew and still know that Allah is the One that can give me ease, guidance, and clarity in these matters, and so, I’m turning myself in His Path and asking Him to guide me and give me peace in my efforts. I ask that you all make dua for me to find success of this life and the Hereafter in these matters. Jazakallahu khairun.

And then, last night came. I can’t express too many details because it isn’t my place to do so, but a close family friend, who I considered an uncle, passed away last night. As I stood and observed everything happening around me, tears flowing down the faces of loved ones, I thought of this life and the Hereafter. I thought of how fragile life is, and how we have to live our lives towards becoming better Muslims and towards preparing for the time Allah takes us back, because not one of us knows when that time will come. I have spent most of today making dua for the uncle that passed away, and have been trying to learn more about the concept of death in Islam. I ask Allah to make things easy for this brother’s family, and to enter them all into Paradise with His Mercy.

This week has left me in thought of my past. A reminder that sealed the week and resulted in an flooding of emotion and epiphanies. I realized that there is still much to come, and that I still have so much to do in order to gain Allah’s Mercy and Forgiveness, and most importantly, that I can’t delay in it anymore. I have to make Tawba (i.e. seek repentance) more often, and need to address every aspect of my life again by running it through the filter of Allah and His Messenger (SAW). I have to break through my comfort zones and personal barriers to pursue what I believe is best for me in this life and the Next, and have to be the best human being and version of myself I can be. The reason I share all of this with all of you is because I hope to inspire you to make changes towards betterment and happiness just as I am striving towards doing, and ask that if you have any stories or advice to share, to let me know that I can grow as well. May Allah guide us all and bring us peace in our souls, and ambition in our hearts. Ameen.

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