Monday, February 20, 2017

Put in Your Best Effort and Allah Will Take Care of the Rest

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

Assalaamu alaykum

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) knew the result of the Battle of Badr before it happened, but he did not sit back and wait for Allah to send the victory. He did his part--planned and prepared the army, not stepping on anybody's toes, and he made a long and intense du'a (supplication) to the Lord the whole night.

We might find certain things difficult or impossible to do but we do them anyway to the best of our ability because we are certain that Allah does not burden a soul beyond his scope (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:286). But we don't stand still. We need to push ourselves whether it be giving up haram or doing more worship at night or seeking religious knowledge or memorizing Qur'an or developing good character or learning patience. If we beseech Allah's help humbly, the moment it is going to be beyond our ability, help will come but we have to do our part.

أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ اللَّـهِ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّـهِ قَرِيبٌ ﴿٢١٤

Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, "When is the help of Allah?" Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near. (214)
[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:214]

Remember Maryam binti Imran, the mother of 'Isa, peace be upon them. When it became unbearable for Maryam to bear the labor pain, Allah sent her comfort.

And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" Then [the baby 'Isa or Jibril] cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not! Your Lord has provided a water stream under you; And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you. So eat and drink and be glad, And if you see any human being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Gracious (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day.'"

[Qur'an, Maryam 19:23-26]
She was told to shake the palm trunk and dates fell for her to eat to gain back her strength. If we were to ask 10 men to shake a date palm trunk at the base, they won't be able to move it even a fraction. How could a woman in labor, weak and exhausted, shake it? What's the point with shaking the tree? Allah can easily make the dates fell on her lap without any effort from her, kun fayakun, but Allah wants her to do her part.

If we want something from Allah, we have to take the first step. If we wait and expect things will come to us without any effort, nothing will happen. Allah does not reward laziness and procrastination.

So until the help comes, hang in there patiently and at the same time do our part to the best of our ability.


May Allah grant us His mercy and help us in all our affairs. 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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