I am from a muslim community that has had Islam as their faith for over a thousand years, prior that Hinduism. Also a slowburning melting pot cultures in a failry safe environment. We know the stories of the prohpets, the 5 pillars and so forth, and Ramadhan physically is routine. No eating and more ocassions to worship Allah. Those are the easiest parts.
As the popular saying goes about 'intentions' determining the reward, less is said about what would be in my opinion, its dimensionally opposed state - to 'redha' to the outcome even if it is bad. An extreme example would be that of Job or Ayob (pbuh). As in the story he was put to such test, it is nearly impossible to relate to circumstances in my life. For as long as I can remember, I mostly had clear and fair intentions in my undertakings and it was not until recently that I reaslised the deeper meaning of 'redha' as I don't remember that the two were spoken off as a pair or in association with the other.
Busied by the growning pace of the world I live in where dog eat dog and you cannot really trust anyone, I had grown impatient. I understand rezki, but like when things gets delayed, when things beyond my control conspires to throw spanner in my works I was getting angry, frustrated, blaming, cussing and be feeling all, kinds of negativity despite the right intentions I started with. It the pattern has repeated time and again, over many, many years.
I sought Allah's help, iyya qana'buduwa iyya qanas ta EEin. There was silence. It remain silent for months. I must keep faith, He Will answer me. And kept praying for guidance. Still silence. I had lost track of time when a message clearly seen, words describing clearly heard, and topical discussion appearing and telling me to look at how I react. Why can't I be a little bit like Job? Those circumstances are not going to change, might as well earn His pleasure by being thankful for what he has already and is still giving me.
So I have learnt - have good intentions for what you want to do, strive to achieve it, be patient but don't stand still, achieve be thankful, don't achieve ALSO be thankful and still count my blessings. And to always be thankful because as I write this conclusion, I realised that not very often do I thank Allah for the smaller gifts and pleasures He gives everyday which I have taken for granted.
Peace and submission
As the popular saying goes about 'intentions' determining the reward, less is said about what would be in my opinion, its dimensionally opposed state - to 'redha' to the outcome even if it is bad. An extreme example would be that of Job or Ayob (pbuh). As in the story he was put to such test, it is nearly impossible to relate to circumstances in my life. For as long as I can remember, I mostly had clear and fair intentions in my undertakings and it was not until recently that I reaslised the deeper meaning of 'redha' as I don't remember that the two were spoken off as a pair or in association with the other.
Busied by the growning pace of the world I live in where dog eat dog and you cannot really trust anyone, I had grown impatient. I understand rezki, but like when things gets delayed, when things beyond my control conspires to throw spanner in my works I was getting angry, frustrated, blaming, cussing and be feeling all, kinds of negativity despite the right intentions I started with. It the pattern has repeated time and again, over many, many years.
I sought Allah's help, iyya qana'buduwa iyya qanas ta EEin. There was silence. It remain silent for months. I must keep faith, He Will answer me. And kept praying for guidance. Still silence. I had lost track of time when a message clearly seen, words describing clearly heard, and topical discussion appearing and telling me to look at how I react. Why can't I be a little bit like Job? Those circumstances are not going to change, might as well earn His pleasure by being thankful for what he has already and is still giving me.
So I have learnt - have good intentions for what you want to do, strive to achieve it, be patient but don't stand still, achieve be thankful, don't achieve ALSO be thankful and still count my blessings. And to always be thankful because as I write this conclusion, I realised that not very often do I thank Allah for the smaller gifts and pleasures He gives everyday which I have taken for granted.
Peace and submission
think we do try... 