Life is a neverending series of test. If we pass the test, we will step up another level. But if we fail, we have to go through it again. And again. Until we pass the test.
When we pass, we either emerge a better person, or a bitter one. We might learn a lesson or ten. It's up to us, really. To look positively and pick up the fruits of the test.See the beautiful rainbow after the storm. Or choose to hate everyone and blame everything.
Easier said than done, you might say. There are, of course some situations where it is really, really hard to be optimistic. I agree. That it simply drives you crazy. Please let this be over, my thoughts will be. And for me, the only way to say sane throughout, is to always, always put my hope, prayers, and thoughts to Allah.
I used to hear people say, talking to someone takes half the burden away. Or something like that. But as I reach adulthood, I find there are lesser and lesser people willing to hear. There are good friends that drifted away. Some people changed. Or simply too swamped with their own problems and lives. New friends takes time. Trust takes time.
Thus I realized. Yes, I need to talk to someone. I need to get it off my chest. I need a good cry sometimes. Someone I can rely on. Who will always listen to me. Never tire of my neverending requests and hopes. Never bored of my tears and sorrow. And who will grant my prayers. Allah Subhanawataala.
And so I find that when I keep close to His path, my life is easier and calmer. Easier in the sense that with oncoming tests there is always, always an unexpected thing that help, ease or completely solve the thing. You see, I am a worrywart, always am. I worry a lot, think too much of pretty much everything. I guess I used to be anxious all the time. It stressed me out. Even when I was happy, I worry.
Then I found that I don‘t have to be. Because everything is out of my control. What I CAN do, is follow His rules, by the way of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh. And perform solat, as much as possible, and say du‘a a lot. It is important to pray not just that special prayer to request and ask what we want; the five daily obligatory prayers must also be observed. By means of observing prayers, I mean to pray early i.e. pray as soon as we hear the call of prayer. Be mindful of the way we take ablution; ensure to have complete or perfect ablution, following the sunnah closely. To constantly increase our concentration or khusyuk in prayer.In order to keep close to Allah, and have Him keep a very close tab on us, we must always maintain good relationship with Him. And most importantly, we must cleanse our hearts that all creations have no power whatsoever to bring good or harm to us, but Allah. Purify our hearts from hoping to His creations; whether it is money, medication, friends, parents, jobs, even ourselves. Complete submission to Him. When we put ourselves in His control, He will take care of us. If we hope that His creations will solve our problems, how can we expect Him to help us?
Allah‘s help will come to His people, people who completely submit to Him and take care to follow His command and law by way of the Prophet pbuh. Thus we must recite Lailahaillallah as much as we can. It has the biggest value in the entire universe. And another way to get help from Allah is to increase recitation of istighfar. Astagfirullah. It is such an easy thing to do yet so hard?
To be under His watch and protection all the time is so reassuring. If I used to be anxious before, I must say that His love has made me very calm and mostly at ease. I couldn‘t change who I am, thus I still worry. But now my worries have been redirected... Worries for this ummah..
I pray that I will never go astray again..
