بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Different people struggle with different things. Every person, every communities and people living in different regions and time periods always have certain things that they struggle with in relation to the Deen (religion). The goal then becomes making ourselves conform. If there is no spiritual struggle then it can't be a true form of religion.
It is not about being yourself, but it is about improving yourself. Just to be yourself is not what this affair is about. And by its nature, religion is not supposed to be easy. Sure, when there is difficulty the flexibility of the shari'ah is there. However working on yourself is something that is hard. Making yourself to pray on time is something that is hard. Making yourself to read a juz of the Quran everyday is something that is something hard. Removing the vices in your heart is something that is hard. To turn away from the dunya is something that is very hard especially in this technological and internet age--just look at the number of social media groups you are a part of, taking your time away from learning beneficial knowledge and worship.
True religion is not supposed to be easy. But what will come as a result of the struggle is that you will be beloved to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, that if you turn this path and Allah accepts you.
We are reminded over and over again in the Quran.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا ﴿٣٠
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds. (30) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:30]
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:46]
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says (in a hadith Qudsi):
I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshiper (Wali) of Mine. And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (supererogatory worship or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (refuge), I will protect him; (i.e. give him My Refuge)and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to disappoint him. [Bukhari]
Wilayah or sainthood is a special rank with which Allah blesses His righteous servants due to their struggle for His Pleasure.
The Qur’an refers to such people as the Soliheen ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ, meaning the righteous, and ranks them with the most honorable of creation.
وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّـهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّـهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ رَفِيقًا ﴿٦٩
And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets (Nabiyyeen), the steadfast affirmers of truth (Siddiqeen), the martyrs (Shuhadaa') and the righteous (Soliheen). And excellent are those as companions. (69)
[Qur’an, An-Nisa 4:69]
For many people they are driven by their passion. Make your desire that which is the desire of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace). By doing so, you are preparing yourself to become beloved of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٣١﴾ قُلْ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿٣٢
Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (31) Say, "Obey Allah and the Messenger." But if they turn away - then indeed, Allah does not like the disbelievers. (32) [Quran, AleImran 3:31-32]
We have to get beyond the rituals. Having knowledge of the obligatory and the halal and haram is key to good actions. To the extent that our obligatory acts are deficient, is to the extent we would need the supererogatory acts to take its place. So it is incumbent upon us to seek knowledge. Seeking knowledge is not supposed to be easy. If seeking knowledge is easy, then so many people would be doing it. The fact is that those who are on the path of knowledge are blessed but you need patience to keep going. So many people fell by the wayside because they don't have patience. The story of Musa and Al-Khidr (peace be upon them) in Surah Kahf is teaching us patience in seeking knowledge.
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَاهُ لَا أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِيَ حُقُبًا ﴿٦٠
And [mention] when Musa to his servant, "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period." (60)
[Quran, Al-Kahf 18:60]
Had it been the will of Allah that Musa should meet al-Khidr at that spot, He could have arranged that easily. Or, if Musa himself was Divinely destined to travel, he could have been given a clear address to help him reach it without any bother. But, what happened here was different. The address given to him was far from being precise - 'when you reach the place where the dead fish stirs and disappears, that will be the place you will find Our servant.
The address of al-Khidr was left imprecise in a manner that it would not remain easy to pinpoint it. Obviously, this too was nothing but a trial and test for Musa. As though this was not enough, when they had reached the exact spot but then they forgot the fish. This was yet another test. After having reached the projected destination, the fish came alive and disappeared into the sea. The reality had unfolded and the place was pinpointed. But, that was not the end. The seeker of knowledge had to undergo yet another test -- hunger and fatigue, and there is no food. When Musa finally saw Al-Khidr and followed him so he could learn from him, this was when he faced the most difficult test.
We should be constantly be acquiring knowledge. Knowledge is that reality whereby the unknown becomes known within us and it is knowledge and worship for which the reason Allah created the heavens and the earth. If this is the reason, every single one of us should have a great portion of it. Knowledge and worship is the means of felicity. Make our Deen the foundational aspect of our lives and make other things move around that. Make knowledge excuse for other things not other things excuse for knowledge.
May Allah ease us in our struggles and in all our affairs, and make everything we do only for His pleasure. May Allah increase us in beneficial knowledge and enable us to follow the footsteps of His beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace).
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance.
Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
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