faith

To Be Happy
To Be Happy 4000 1160 Nadir Keval

I believe that when we are born, we are all blessed with a natural disposition towards the pursuit of happiness. It is only due to the environments we are raised in that we end up losing that desire for it. Sure, many of us spend a good portion of our lives striving towards having a stable and secure income, the perfect spouse, that ideal family, enjoyment of all types of foods, and a body that would make Greek mythology seem reflective of the average physique. Is all of that possible? Of course it is, but it takes immense amounts of hard work, ambition, self-esteem, patience, and faith – things very few of us are willing to apply to our lives.

What we acquire in life, and how successful we are is often judged based on our bank balances, the size of our houses, the brands of our clothes, and the price tag of our cars. Notice how it’s all related to money? We have become slaves to the things we have created – paper with ink on it, which we claim to be of value because of some sort of signature on it that makes it unique. Money is the largest and longest running ad campaign in human history. We have been convinced and conditioned to make something so worthless into something considered priceless at times. How’s that? Consider being in a situation where law requires you to pay for anything you eat, and that the clerk selling you food must take money from you in order to make the transaction and avoid penalties.  Add to this the fact that you have not eaten for days and have no money with which to purchase food. Other than doing something that could result in you being punished by law, in some cases, to the point of death, you really have no choice but to move forward without nourishment. That mere dollar or two would thus become priceless to you because it is a matter of life and death. This example may seem a little farfetched, but sadly, it’s a truth to thousands of people around the world who live in impoverished places and have nothing to eat or drink. (We must put forth our utmost effort to help those in need, be it as close as home or in places where their basic necessities have become luxuries. I have chosen not to speak further on the importance of helping others in this article, as it takes away from the core of what I am trying to get across. I will, however, speak on the topic in the near future, as it is something I am very passionate and concerned with.)

Yet, look at those people, and you will find that they live out their lives, though often shortened by their unfortunate conditions, with happiness, contentment, and a sincere sense of peace in their hearts. They no longer have attachments to material gains, but rather, attach themselves to faith, family, and hope. We, however, live privileged lives. While others around the world are in conditions where their bare necessities are turned to luxuries, we are living with major luxuries being considered necessities – “Oh, you can’t do much unless you have a cell phone,” “I’m not going to buy those shoes! I want those [insert major brand name here]!” “But what am I supposed to do all day if the TV is out??” We are spoiled. We are pathetic.

Take a look at your life, and ask yourself how much of your time you spend being active? Is your faith the core of your lifestyle? Do you eat to nourish yourself, or to deal with emotions or addictions? Why are you still at your current job? Are you pursuing a passion in at least one component of your life? Ultimately, are you happy? Questions like these are ones that we must ask ourselves often to keep ourselves in check.

For years, I worried about the intangible things, like wealth, careers, food, etc. When I changed my mindset towards focusing around my faith, I found peace. That doesn’t in any way suggest that I don’t have struggles or issues of my own to deal with on a daily basis. That doesn’t mean that I am perfect and completely practice what I’ve written about here, without flaws or errors. What it means is that I no longer felt an attachment to things that I knew would pass. It also means that I am more satisfied and content with my life, and am more open and flexible when it comes to change. I used to think that things had to be done a certain way, and that without pursuing things in that same path, I would be guaranteeing myself a sense of failure and loss. But now, I live with fluidity and flexibility, and am able to adjust to situations with much more ease. I have my affections and attachments, but if they are lost from my life, I no longer feel the need to mope around or be depressed about it, Alhamdulillah.

Life is filled with expectations and norms, but that does not necessarily mean that it’s what best for you. Hold your own goals, work hard, and commit to your dreams and ambitions, but practice fluidity and flexibility through attachment to faith in order to transition smoothly through the turbulence of life. Find a passion, and make an effort to pursue what makes you happiest. Forget the rules of anything but morality and faith, and focus on pursuing happiness as a child without fear and full of imagination. And always, ALWAYS remember to give back and help others, because that is the fastest route to happiness and gaining more true success.

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!

The Roller Coaster Of Life (Video)
The Roller Coaster Of Life (Video) 1274 714 Nadir Keval

Life itself is a roller coaster. The lower the roller coaster, the steeper and slower the climb to thrill and excitement. But, once you get to that pivotal point, the ride down is incredible and breath-taking! Sure, it may be short-lived, but once again, the lower it goes, the more it’ll pay off once you work your way back up to the top. Be patient. Work hard. It’ll be worth it. – Nadir Keval

Hey guys! After a long-time hiatus, I’m back with a new video! I’m going to be posting videos more often, so please be sure to subscribe and to like my videos. And if you can, write a comment below and share this video with your friends. Apologies for my first video back to be one where I look incredibly tired, but this video was actually shot at around midnight, after a day of working and a 10km trek. I hope the message I’m trying to get across touches your heart, and that you feel inclined to continue watching and sharing my videos!

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!

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.

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