Don't See Yourself In Anything

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We know Allah created our whole body. Sometimes because our body is working by default, we forget Allah. It is not sufficient to know that Allah created every part of our body, but we also have to know that all the systems are working by Allah.

It is not because you have eyes that you can see, it is not because you have ears that you can hear, it is not because you have tongues that you can talk, it is not because you have hands that you can touch and hold, it is not because you have intellect that you can think, it is because Allah wants them to function that way. If you have a bad eyesight and you go to the doctor who prescribed you glasses and you wear them it is not the glasses that enable you to see well again. It is Allah who enables you to see well again.

Do you think you are so smart that you pass your exams, that you graduated from college, that you have a PhD, that you are making so much money and have a good job or a successful business/projects? Do you think you are so great that you have so many fans, that you can make the audience cry because of your moving speech? Your intellect was able to compose a moving speech because Allah wanted it that way and your tongue was able to give a moving speech because Allah wanted it that way. Nothing came from you. You have to be conscious about this all the time. Don't see yourself in anything but see Allah in everything.

There was one Shaykh giving a Friday khutbah (sermon). It was a good and inspiring khutbah and people were crying while listening to the khutbah. When the Shaykh was leaving the mimbar (pulpit) to start the Friday prayer, he saw the people crying because of his speech. He said to himself, "I did it!" As soon as he said, Allahu Akbar and to begin reciting surah al-Fatiha, he was silent for a long time. Most people who were following behind him, including children, memorized surah al-Fatiha, and they recited the first verse, Alhamdulillahi Rabbil 'alamin ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ over and over again to remind him, but it was as if he couldn't hear them. At that moment he realized his mistake when he said, "I did it." Allah gave him a quick and strong lesson that he did not do anything. He made a sincere repentance to Allah in his heart and immediately he was able to recite the surah and complete the prayer. He later said that he could hear noises when people were trying to remind him of al-Fatiha, but he could not recognize the words.

What do you have in your life that you are working on or something you want to finish? Do you think you are running these things? You plan but when you get the results as you planned, don't think that you did it. It was already in Allah's plan.

What are you jealous about or sad about when you see others have a house and you don't, have many children and you don't, have a loving spouse and you don't, or when you hear about their wonderful vacations and you have been stuck in one place for the last 20 years? Do you think you can transfer what they have to you? No, everything is own and run by Allah. If He wills that you have the like of what others have, you will have them. If not, you won't.

We have to remember this always for this will bring our hearts closer to Allah.

May Allah bring our hearts closer to Him. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam.