Faith

The Seed Of All Success
The Seed Of All Success 2560 1600 Nadir Keval

Find the right seed, take care of it, and you will see your dreams begin to blossom. – Nadir Keval

This mindset towards success is what helps me to continue moving forward in accomplishing my goals, despite the several setbacks that come my way. Throughout the years, I have tried time and time again to experiment and find the right seed in order to see results I sought, but it wasn’t until I recognized that seed to be faith that I actually saw and felt success.

Just as a seed sprouts the roots of a tree, which then grows to have its own branches, such does the impact of faith have on your life when you make it the seed of your success. Take into consideration the different aspects of your life, be it your career, your family, your health, your education, and any and everything else that makes you who you are. All of these components of your life can be connected directly to your faith, and if this is done, your intentions change, and thus, your focus becomes more clear and you are more determined to make your dreams a successful reality.

Let’s consider some of the different components of our lives:

  • Career – Build a career to fulfill your rights upon yourself by fulfilling your dreams and vision. Use it as a source through which you can provide for your family. To give yourself your rights and to provide for your family is an obligation upon almost every Muslim, and so, with this as your root purpose, you will gain reward in this life and the Next for all of the work and effort you put in towards your career.
  • Family – Taking care of your family, and building a safe haven of happiness and support is of immense importance if one wants to fulfill their obligation and responsibility towards their family, and if futures are hoped to be established successfully. This is a responsibility and obligation that Allah has placed upon all Muslims, and so, through giving our families their rights, we are able to gain Allah’s Support and Reward in this life and the Next.
  • Health – Our bodies are gifts from Allah, and just as we are responsible for providing ourselves with the mental and spiritual needs of life, we must also take care of ourselves with the right kinds and amounts of nourishment and fuel for our bodies, and with the right training and exercise to condition our bodies to be at the top of their potential. Take the responsibility of giving your body, mind, and spirit the rights it deserves and you will see that with this new mindset, you’ll be stronger, wiser, and more disciplined in the different experiences of life.
  • Education – We know that knowledge is power. But very few of us act on this, and aspire towards gaining this power that is so readily available to us, especially in the world we live in today. So, make a change and start acting on gaining an education, be it from getting a university or college degree, from reading books and self-teaching, through living life to the fullest and learning through experience and apprenticeship, or ideally, a combination of all three. Do this with the intention of fulfilling the command from Allah to gain knowledge, and through recognition of the fact that Islam is a religion for the people of understanding, as it is mentioned time and time again throughout the Quran. With this mindset, you will find joy and passion in seeking knowledge, and it will be a venue through which you will become more worldly and aware of how to face the daily challenges we all experience. And once again, you will gain the rewards of this life and the Hereafter through changing your intentions behind gaining an education and knowledge for the sake of Allah.

See how easy it is to look at it with faith as the seed of success? Though the examples I’ve mentioned above are reflective of the Islamic faith, it can be related to almost any faith. I chose to use Islam as an example because it is the faith I follow, and thus, the examples are relative to my own life. These examples act as the roots through which the tree of success is grown. Through that, you will find branches and flowers/fruits expand and become greater parts of what make you who you are. And just as God brings back to life the flowers and trees that die every year due to the harshness of the weather they experience, He brings back to life and rejuvenates the inspirations that sparked your aspirations in the first place. With God as the source of your seed’s nourishment and fuel, the possibilities of how successful you can be are endless.

Take a moment and reflect on the different components of your life that make it what it is. Look at what you work towards, what you aspire for, and what you stand for. Reshape your intentions in all aspects to reflect your faith, and watch how everything becomes more focused, clear, and “pure”. Live your life with your faith as the seed of every action, and experience rewards and success in this life and the Next. What more could we ask for, really? I pray that we all find that focus, clarity, and purity.

Ramadan 2013 – Reflections and Changes
Ramadan 2013 – Reflections and Changes 1920 1047 Nadir Keval

Ramadan last year was…different. To be honest, I don’t think there’s any other way to describe it. There was so much going on in my life, and it was all stuff that was overwhelming, stressful, and confusing. Looking back, it wasn’t a time of much clarity for me. I went through a dark time, and was quite unhappy, making it very difficult for me to focus on my faith. Through the help and support of friends, I was able to push myself towards moving forward from the things that ailed me, and found myself in a new place, where I recognized that I had the ability to achieve anything. It was as though life had thrown me to the wind, and instead of being blown away, I was left standing while the wind cleansed my life of the clutter and negativity. Alhamdulillah.

Throughout this last year, I have grown greatly, Alhamdulillah. I have been able to refine the things that I was always so passionate about, and through this process, I have found a new level of peace and clarity within my personal faith. I knew that there was a need for me to grow closer to God, and so I began working on my relationship with Him. It was difficult, and it made what would usually be considered easy and simple become overwhelmingly difficult.

Without going into details of my personal sins, I will share some of the points I grew to recognize as being the key aspects of what helped me find peace and happiness:

  • Be optimistic: It’s so easy to be pessimistic about things, and to expect the worst. It’s so easy to think that everything is just not going to work out, and expect people to always be out to get you, or to make it seem like there’s no point in trying harder to become better. What’s difficult is to be at peace with life, no matter what comes your way. That comes through being optimistic and recognizing that everything that happens in life is part of His Plan. Sure, it’s more difficult, but once you learn to trust Allah, this becomes the secret ingredient to happiness in life. I’ll be writing a separate article about this topic later this week, so be sure to stay tuned for that!
  • Seek progression, not perfection: Many of us get down on ourselves when we find that we’re struggling with living up to the expectations of trying to be perfect in what we do. Well, at least, that’s something I went through. Upon realizing that I shouldn’t worry about the results, and instead should just focus on trying to be the best I could be as possible, life became much more peaceful.
  • Understand that you’re human: We all make mistakes, and beating ourselves up about it won’t do us any good. Instead, recognize that you’re human and part of being human is going through ups and downs in almost every aspect of life. What matters is the next thing in this list…
  • Never give up: Life is a series of tests and struggles, in which we focus on trying to accomplish goals in order to survive and thrive. The problem with this can sometimes be that things don’t always go our way. When this happens, it’s of utmost importance that we refuse to give up and continuously strive towards accomplishing our goals. Roll with the punches, and make the most of what life brings your way, but be patient and relentless in making your dreams a reality.

This Ramadan, let’s take in all we can from the lessons we learned over the past year, set some new goals, and try to make some changes. As a method of following through with this initiative, I’m challenging all of you to do things this Ramadan that are your own personal ways of making a change, be it through praying more, reading Quran more often, going out and volunteering somewhere, helping someone, giving Da’wah, etc. During the month, take pictures, record videos, write blog posts, etc. and hashtag them with #nkmakeachange. Let’s inspire each other to build on helping people as much as we can, and share our experiences. Make the most of this Ramadan, insha Allah! I pray that Allah helps and guides all of us towards making positive changes during this month, and that He gives us the strength, discipline, passion, and commitment to carry on with our changes after Ramadan as well. Ameen!

When My Patience Wears Thin
When My Patience Wears Thin 1701 1129 Nadir Keval

We all go through times when our patience is tested. We’re pushed to the edge, either by others or through our own overthinking, and it’s at that point that we find our patience wears thin. When this happens to me, I become anxious, annoyed, and irritable. I begin to fall into a daze, where I find myself not caring about anything or anyone, and focusing solely on myself. Focusing on oneself isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can be destructive if it isn’t balanced with giving back in some way or another. So, when I find myself in predicaments like these, I first turn to Allah. I pray two rakah (segments) of prayer, and supplicate while in prostration, asking Him to give me peace, calm, and serenity. It’s far too easy to fall prey to the stresses and hopes of this world, which can be scary and fatal, especially when it leads to us distancing ourselves from the hopes and aspirations of the Hereafter. Just the other, I was speaking to a friend about this. We discussed how in the past, during the time of the Prophet (SAW), he and his companions would have such a strong focus on their Hereafter, that this life was like a simple pit stop towards their ultimate goal of Paradise.

“Live in this world as a traveler or a stranger.” – Prophet Muhammad (SAW) [Bukhari and Tirmidhi]

This life we’re leading is something we should really consider as being a mere tool with which we can prepare ourselves for the Hereafter. That relates to so many matters of life, but to focus on the topic at hand, I’ll speak on how this relates to patience. We all live these rushed lives, trying to constantly get something done to fulfill our need for instant gratification. We become obsessed with how others are leading their lives, and feel the need to follow their examples without a moment’s consideration as to whether or not what they’re doing is right or wrong, beneficial or harmful. We live based on our desires and feel that we must embrace those desires in order to live well, forgetting that what makes us different from other creatures in this world is that we have been given the intellect to make sound judgments and moral decisions. These blessings make it possible for us to live within guidelines and boundaries we have set up based on morals and beliefs. What kind of a life are we leading if we focus on what is temporary instead of what is eternal and everlasting? That’s like accepting pennies when you could earn millions by putting in the same effort, but just readjusting your priorities. I know it’s much easier said than done, because we have been created to have emotions, desires, and wants, but everything must be maintained within reason and moderation. I believe in letting our imaginations soar, and to never accept anything less than the best, but what is beautiful about that is that a good portion of that is reliant upon Allah’s Wisdom and Decree. When we want something or strive towards achieving something, it’s important to remember that the results of our efforts are in the Hands of God, and that everything that happens to us is what is best for us, even if we don’t see it then. Reevaluate and readjust your priorities. Be content with what life throws your way, but never be satisfied with it, because there is always hope for more. There are no limits to how far we can go when we put our hearts and faith, and ambition and effort towards what we want. But, there are also times when what we want isn’t really what’s best for us, and so, we don’t get what we want, or are left to learn the hard way. Either way, what comes is for our benefit, and we just need to keep moving forward. I’ve done it, and so I’m sure any of you can. Sure, life has beaten me to the ground time and time again in the past, but I know that I will never face anything I can’t handle, and so, I get back up, regardless of how hard it is or how long it takes, and keep moving forward.

“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)

Here are some tips based on what I’ve learned to do when my patience has been tested:

  • Take a break – This can be something as simple as putting down your phone, headphones, and everything else you may be carrying and just going for a walk – you, yourself, and God. Or, it can be something like taking a day or two off. Don’t worry, you’re not wasting time, or losing money (refer to the stupid saying, “Time is money.”). You’re recuperating. You’re recharging yourself so that you can be better, stronger, and more driven. You weren’t created to constantly be working. You were created to live a balanced life, so find balance, damnit!
  • Increase worship – Your connection with God is something that will change your complete outlook towards life. When a distance has grown between us and God, we begin to question everything with ignorance, and lose faith and hope that everything will be okay. Your relationship with God is your greatest weapon against insanity, so embrace it, develop it, nourish it, and thank God for being your greatest friend and supporter. Whenever you can, take a second and supplicate or pray, just to get that reconnect with God. Think about it: since having cell phones and social media, how many times do we talk to our friends in a day? God has been there all this time, and staying in touch with him doesn’t cost you a three-year contract and a monthly bill. In fact, HE rewards you when you keep up with Him. How awesome is that?!
  • Go fishing – Okay, so maybe you don’t HAVE to choose fishing as your activity, but do something that’s relaxing and doesn’t require much effort, but also gives you a chance to be productive and grow. I personally like fishing because it forces me to be patient. You spend a lot of time trying to catch something, and it really makes you have to be quiet and patient as you wait for the sudden and often subtle movements of the line to know if you’re getting a bite. Sometimes, that leads to catching something, and sometimes it doesn’t. When you do catch something, it’s a great sense of accomplishment, not because of a physical feat, but because you’ve overcome impatience and achieved something that has been done for centuries throughout history. When you don’t catch something, it’s an opportunity for building humility, because you’re reminded that not everything goes your way all the time, and that it was written for you today.
  • Take care of YOU – This can involve so many things from meditation, exercising, eating well, hanging out with close friends, etc. The main point is to remember that you have to take care of yourself in order for you to make the most of life and be as successful as possible. Life’s not running away from you. What’s written for you will be yours, and what isn’t, wont. BUT, what you have to do is make the most of every moment, which includes you working hard at some times and taking breaks at others, eating clean and healthy most of the time and indulging in your favourite treat sometimes, etc. And all of this is stuff you should do without feeling guilty. Don’t call it a cheat meal, call it a treat meal. Don’t call it a lazy Sunday, call it a recharge Sunday. Get what I’m saying?

When things get overwhelming and our patience with ourselves or with others begins to wear thin, I find that it’s often a signal our body is sending us to take a moment to ourselves and come back to our centre point. Don’t let patience become your enemy, but instead, consider it that friend that calls you out when you’re in need of some tough love. Take some time out to take care of you, and remember that it’s okay to put things off for a day (don’t make this a habit though – that’s how procrastination is born), as long as you maintain balance and come back with stronger ambition, passion, and drive. Now, go out there and patiently persevere and make your dreams a reality!

Progress At Your Own Pace
Progress At Your Own Pace 2560 1600 Nadir Keval

Life is a challenge. There’s no doubt about that. But, challenges aren’t a bad thing, especially when we look at them as opportunities for growth and success. Easier said than done, I know.

Throughout my life, I have faced my own set of struggles, difficulties, and challenges. First off, to them, I say Alhamdulillah. They have made me who I am today. And although, at the time of facing those particular struggles, I felt a phenomenal amount of pain and suffering, I now look back at every single one of those events and aspects of my life as blessings and lessons that I carry with me every day. I use these experiences as reminders and tools with which I can learn to become a better person.

Some of the challenges I’ve faced are things that others would consider small and unimportant, or would be able to overcome so easily that they wouldn’t even register these things as challenges. Does that mean that I am weaker or a lesser person than them? Does that mean they are more advanced or better than me? No. It just shows how we all face our own struggles to our own degrees and at our own pace.

I know of some people who are monumental figures in the world, who inspire people every day, and who are financially successful as well. These people were also once homeless, once failing students, once leading unhealthy lives to the extent of being close to death, once going through a tough divorce, or once dealing with the loss of their family members because of war. Most of us would find facing even one of these struggles to be overwhelming, but some have faced more than a few of those things at once. Yet, today they are happy and successful. With faith and patience, they were able to overcome, and for that, they were rewarded.

Is Patience Worth It?

“Indeed, the patient will be given their record without account” – Quran (39:10)

Just the other day, I attended a halaqa, where the teacher told us about the story of Prophet Ayub (may Allah have mercy on him) and how he faced so many different trials, and still, remained patient. Off the top of my head, what I recall learning about was how Prophet Ayub had almost everything a person could want in life: a loving family, wealth, good health, and a good reputation in the community. He was then tested, riddled with disease to the point that no one wanted to come near him, so he lost his friends, his wealth, and his health. Still, he remained patient. Because he couldn’t work, as his health had deteriorated to the point of making his figure seem like no more than flesh on bones, his wife began to work by cleaning homes and the like. People didn’t know that she was Prophet Ayub’s wife, but once they found out, they stopped hiring her, in fear that she may pass his disease on to them. So, in a state of desperation, she began to sell her hair (there was a high payment given for hair that could be used to make wigs). This brought a lot of wealth, so Prophet Ayub asked her where the wealth came from, and she ultimately told him and revealed her practically bald head. He then, for the first time, made dua regarding his and his family’s condition saying, “Oh Allah, we have been touched by difficulty.” Look how patient he was, that even after facing all that he had, he didn’t describe his condition as being horrific or unbearable, but rather, said that they have been simply “touched” by difficulty – incredible, Subhanallah!! After this, he was rewarded for his patience and got back his health and wealth, and was able to become a functioning member of his society again.

We often look at the things we face and at that moment, we feel them to be overwhelming and heavily burdensome. We feel like we are facing the toughest thing in the world, and for those without faith, the words that often come to mind are, “Why me?” But, the truth of the matter is, the things we face all have purpose, and regardless of how difficult they may seem, nothing is more difficult than you can handle. Our struggles and difficulties in life are in fact blessings in disguise, as they give us the opportunity to show our true strengths and to become better than we were before. Sure, you didn’t get that job you wanted, you missed out on completing your degree because of 0.6%, or things didn’t work out with that person you were sure you were meant to marry…but all of those things not going as you had planned was all part of Allah’s Plan to prepare you for the better things to come, or to protect you from what may have come had things gone your way. Personally, as I look back, through all the pain and struggles, I smile because I can see how things just got better over time, or I realized how horrible my life would have been if I had gotten what I wanted, and every single one of those major “struggles” I thought would be the end of me turned out to be remembered as no more than a moment in time that passed and is now lighter than a feather.

“But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows, while you know not.” – Quran (2:216)

Be patient with all that you face, and grateful for how far you’ve come. Think back to some of the things you’ve experienced in life and you’ll find that a lot of the bad times only made you stronger. It’s a tough thing to experience at the time, but if you keep in mind that Allah is merely making you stronger in faith and character through this and protecting your from harm, you’ll find more contentment with your condition. Remember, Allah rewards the patient without account, so just imagine how He, the One with no limitations, could reward you with so much more than you could imagine!

Why’s It Taking So Long?

“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)

We face a lot in our lives – that is without doubt. But all that we face is within the capacity of what we can bear. What gets to us isn’t the inability to accomplish our goals, but the time it takes for us to do so. We live in a time where everything is based on instant gratification. Patience is almost unheard of because people expect what they want to be manifested in front of them in one way or another without taking out the time and effort to make it a reality. We rush ourselves to accomplish our goals, and treat others badly if they get in our way. We look at others with judgment if they are struggling in a part of their journey that we found to be easy. We fail to understand that every person will be tested and awarded as is most befitting to us, because we are all unique and need to face our own journeys in our own way.

This concept is reflected in every aspect of life. We want financial stability, so we apply for a few jobs and then start complaining a few days later because we’re still unemployed. We want to get married, but hardly do anything to make ourselves worthy of marriage, and then complain that no one wants to marry us. We want to lose weight so we eat healthy and work out for a week or two and then complain that we still haven’t lost those 20 lbs. we set out to lose. We talk and talk about our intentions to take action towards leading better lives, but then spend months complaining about how nothing has changed, when truthfully, we’ve hardly put any effort towards taking action towards those changes. We need to embrace our responsibilities towards ourselves, and take steps towards our goals at our own pace. Ignore the pressures of others and just ask yourself if you’re working as hard as you can. Compare yourself only to the person you were the day before. Other than that, know that everyone else is irrelevant in comparison. Try to work at who you want to become by recognizing that you are different from everyone else and that you need to find your success at your own pace. Taking this approach will bring you ease, contentment, and a much faster and healthier path to success – I speak from experience, Alhamdulillah.

“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 (65:3-4)

Live Your Life
Live Your Life 1378 1378 Nadir Keval

Life – a labyrinth filled with obstacles, decisions, successes, and more, unique to each and every one of us. There is no life that is exactly like another, and that is what makes it so beautiful. But throughout all that we face, rarely do we take the time to appreciate the incredible blessing of life itself and all that it has to offer. I often tell clients – be they mentoring, EYSK Media, EYSK Childcare Centers, or EYSK Development clients:

We spend so much of our time and effort trying to make a living that we forget to live in the process.

This is a thought that came to mind as I was working towards my path of figuring out how I wanted to guide myself through my labyrinth. So many had told me that I should pursue things in ways similar to what they did, to follow societal norms, or to live up to expectations put upon me through my family. In an effort to find my path through being open to anything I felt comfortable with on a moral level, I was fortunate enough to realize that those paths weren’t what were meant for me.

I spent years working for different companies, making money and paying bills, but every day, I would wake up dreading the work day to come, and would come home exhausted and unsatisfied with what I had accomplished that day. Nothing was ever enough. The same was the case when it came to school. I would spend my days at school getting involved in multiple things and hardly making an effort to study because I had no interest in what I was learning. I was pursuing my degree because it was what was expected of me, and I was working solely to pay bills. My life was dry and boring.

Now, don’t get me wrong, some people love to work solely to pay bills, and love to go to school to learn their trades or skills, but it just wasn’t enough for me. To each their own, but personally, I needed a challenge and needed to be passionately invested in what I was pursuing. I realized that I wasn’t living life to the fullest (in my own prospective), and so, I needed to make a change.

Another thing that drove me to that change (which I’ll elaborate on in a minute) was the fact that I had lived my entire life according to what others thought I was capable of and based on the life they had envisioned for me. My every moment was focused around helping people through giving them what they wanted instead of helping them learn to acquire what they needed.

Ultimately, all of this came crashing down on me and I fell into a state of sadness and depression. I was never happy, was never satisfied or content, and always felt that I was only as skilled, talented, capable, etc. as what those around me said I was. It broke me, and landed me in the hospital a few times, before I finally decided it was time for me to take control of my life.

So, the drive to change kicked in. I struggled and battled myself to live for myself and what made me happy, but I knew it was something I needed to establish within myself in order to hold any possibility of happiness and freedom in my future. I began by looking at what I wanted my life to consist of. In my case, I want to be in incredible shape and health, I want to be able to help people through sharing my thoughts and experiences, I want to continue to mentor people, I want to run as many businesses as I could in as many fields as I could, I want to do Da’wah (spreading the message of Islam in a method based on wisdom, knowledge, action, and patience), and I want to live a particular standard of living that I always found fascinating (the details of which I’ll keep to myself).

Sounds like a lot, I’m sure, but this is just what I want for myself, and doesn’t even touch on the things I’d like to accomplish in relation to my interactions with others (like my parents, siblings, relatives, friends, my wife – when I find her, my future children, the needy, and pretty much just people in general). That is a whole different category to talk about in another article, but the focus right now is on myself, because as I often tell myself (as motivation):

You can’t help others be at their best if you’re not at your best.

I wanted to share this with all of you because it’s something that has completely changed my life. After determining what I wanted in life, I looked at the different components that made up my life and began to add and subtract things from it. So now, here’s how I’ve laid things out for myself:

Incredible shape & health

= Crossfit Training & Insanity (DVD Workout) along with other methods of training

Help people through sharing my thoughts and experiences & Continue to mentor people

= EYSK Development Services [NadirKeval.com (Blog, Public Speaking, Seminars & Workshops, Mentoring Sessions)]

Run as many businesses as I can in as many fields as I can (that interest me)

= EYSK Industries (EYSK Media, EYSK Childcare, EYSK Development Services)

Do Da’wah (lifelong journey which plays a part in my every day life, Alhamdulillah)

= Candor Muslims (an organization I am working on establishing), Studying Islam, Learning more languages, etc.

Live a particular standard of living

= Follow through on all of the above

Every single one of us will have our own path to pave in life, and this labyrinth we face is one that we must find our own way through. No person will be able to tell us our way because it’s unique to us and only our individual hearts and minds hold the map. Take this as a blessing and an opportunity to really figure out who you are, what you believe in, and what you hope to accomplish out of your life. Remember to live to leave a legacy. It doesn’t have to be big. Just strive impact the heart of at least one person in a positive way during your lifetime, but make sure that before you try to help others change their lives for the better that you have your life in order. Life will always be a state of chaos, but we can bring peace and order to it through learning how to face life with strength, patience, confidence, wisdom, and most importantly, faith. Live YOUR life.

Poem: “Utopian” – Spoken Word – SFU MSA Islamic Awareness Week 2013
Poem: “Utopian” – Spoken Word – SFU MSA Islamic Awareness Week 2013 1280 800 Nadir Keval

Scroll down for the video.

Muhammad.
The most common first name in the world.
So many use this name as their own,
But none can be like the original.
He is our Prophet, our Messenger, our example,
He is the ideal,
(SAW).
And it is our purpose,
It is our mission,
To live our lives as he had envisioned.

I imagine what it would have been like,
To stand by him as he spoke to the people,
Inspiring hearts,
Revealing purpose.
His sheer existence personified perfection.

He was a man of strength and of dignity.
Superior in every way,
Yet never letting others feel inferiority.

The best of men.

A husband who loved with a heart of gold,
With compassion and wisdom,
And justice and truth.

A father who stood as an example,
To his own, and to all people.

A leader willing to take the weight of the world,
Going hungry for days,
Just so others could have a morsel.

He would give with such generosity,
To the point that it was clear,
He didn’t fear poverty.

As a warner, you would think he’d be stern,
But instead he was sincere, loving, kind, and firm.

A man like him only comes once,
And now it’s on us to honor his trust.
He entrusted us with the message of Islam,
To be the best to ourselves,
And to our fellow man.
And this can only be done
Through following his example,
And yes, it’s not easy,
But Allah wouldn’t have sent him,
If getting close to his perfection
were impossible.

And so, I want to be like him.
I want to marry a woman that reminds me of his wives.
I want to seek companions like his companions.
I strive to face my struggles as he faced his struggles.
And I smile for reasons that would make him smile.

This is my utopia…
To live like him.
And how blessed are we,
To have our utopia be a true and real opportunity.

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.

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.

Back to top