the topic of how to become an excellent teacher of Quran. Surprisingly I have learned things which I had not even expected. For example, the concept that external problems or hurdles are not the real obstacle in the way of success . Rather it is our sins which have the most damaging effect on our lives.
This
reminded me of the countless times I have told others that I could not do such
and such thing or could not complete the target I had in mind because of this
problem or that hurdle.
Sometimes blaming people, other times crying over
health problems, always a string of excuses which are nothing more than that
excuses! Because If I had truly wanted to do something and sincerely asked
Allah (SWT), then why would he not let me do things which I want to do only for
his sake? Surely there must be something wrong inside my own self?
I
remember a few years ago I had gone to visit my parents. The next morning there
was no water in the taps ... very strange! Because the night before they had
got the water tank refilled ... so where did those gallons of water disappear?
Plumbers were called and they began digging to find the leakage ... the whole
house was in an uproar, with people coming in and out ... nothing else could be
done because everything depends on water. Finally the broken pipe was
discovered and repaired, the tank was filled again and life restored back to
normal.
But
when the same story happens with our tank of faith and knowledge; it never
becomes an issue of concern. We fill our hearts and minds with the knowledge of
Quran and Hadith ... but the next day when we face any situation and open the
tap, nothing comes out ... no patience, no gratitude, no kindness with others
... where did all the faith and knowledge go? No body is worried ... no one
tries to find the leakage of the heart ...
But
we must realize that just as life stops if there is no water, similarly the
soul dies if there is no faith ... our very survival depends on it ... so if
the faith and knowledge is not coming out in deeds then it means that there is
some serious leakage problem.
For
me it remained a mystery for many years but Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to
Allah), I just found out that every sin for which we do not feel guilty nor do
Taubah (Seeking Forgiveness) nor correct it ... then it creates a crack in our
heart from where faith keeps dripping out and we don't even realize it.
So
whenever we feel lack of motivation, lack of energy, then immediately we should
pray to Allah (SWT) to show us where we went wrong and then honestly and
sincerely ask Allah (SWT) for forgiveness. So as to mend the crack and ensure
that our tank of faith remains full.
May
Allah protect us from our self conceit and give us insight with which we might
realize our mistakes and correct our ways. Because no one else can do it for
us. Each one of us has to be responsible for his own life.
Moral
of the Will Power Story: Knowledge and actions are the two arms of Islam. Just
as a bird cannot fly without two wings the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (saw)
has said: Knowledge without action is a curse and action without knowledge is
deviation.
Will Power Stories: Big storm or God is great?
When
we build a house, we take so much care to have a strong foundation so that it
can stand the test of weather and time or that we could build more above it in
course of time.
Do
we take care to build our lives too on a strong faith foundation to courageously
face the storms and challenges in life?
To
stress the need to have strong faith, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) told of a parable of
a wise man and foolish man who ventured to build a house. The wise man built
his house upon the rock. The foolish man built his house upon the sand. The
rains came down, the floods rose and gales and storms beat against the houses.
The foolish man's house crashed to the ground while the wise man's house stood
firm. (Matthew 7:24-27)
Most
of us have experiences of facing storms. There could be financial storms,
relationship storms, emotional storms, physical storms (health problems).
People who build there lives on a strong faith foundation are those who will
look at the storm calmly and courageously say "Oh Storm, God is great."
But people who do not have a strong faith foundation will look at the storm and
cry out "Oh God! I have a big storm."
We
love our children so much that we give them the best of education, food,
clothing, entertainment. But the most beautiful love gift we can give our
children is the gift of a strong faith foundation in Allah (SWT). When we can
give them this, they will be able to stand the challenges and storms of life
courageously even when we are not around anymore.
A
story is told of a shipwreck where everyone was swimming to safety. One sailor
was struggling to make it to the shore when he suddenly saw a small rock
protruding above the tide. He gripped to it tightly till the storm receded.
When he reached the shore, people asked him "Did you not shake with fear
when you held that small rock?" He quipped "Yes, I shook with fear,
but the Rock did not shake and that's why I am safe."
Let
us give ourselves and our children that rock to hold on to. When a pious man
was on his deathbed he called all his children around him and said, "My
children, if I leave all my wealth and property for you but do not leave you
with a strong faith in Allah (SWT), you will be poor, very poor. But If I do
not leave you any wealth or property but leave you with a strong faith in Allah
(SWT), you will be rich, very rich indeed."
Will Power Stories: Don't give up, just keep driving
One
day a young lady was driving along with her father. They came upon a storm and
the young lady asked her father, "What should I do?"
Father
said, "Keep driving." Cars began to pull over to the side, the storm
was getting worse.
"What
should I do?" The young lady asked?
"Keep
driving," her father replied.
On
up a few feet, she noticed that eighteen wheelers were also pulling over. She
told her father, "I must pull over, I can barely see ahead. It is terrible
and everyone is pulling over!"
Her
father told her, "Don't give up, just keep driving!"
Now
the storm was terrible, but she never stopped driving and soon she could see a
little more clearly. After a couple of miles she was again on dry land and the
sun came out.
Her
father said, "Now you can pull over and get out."
Young
Lady said, "But why now?"
Father
said, "When you get out, look back at all the people that gave up and are
still in the storm, because you never gave up your storm is now over."
This
is a testimony for anyone who is going through "hard times." Just
because everyone else, even the strongest, gives up. You don't have to ... if
you keep going, soon your storm will be over and the Sun will shine upon your
face again.
Imam
Ali (as): "The endure does not miss success although it may take a long
time."
Don't Loose your "Will Power" in Hardship of Life
An
old man lived alone in home. He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was
very hard work. His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison.
The
old man wrote a letter to his son and told his situation.
"Dear
Son, I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my
potato garden this year. I hate to miss doing the garden, because your mother
always loved planting time. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden
plot.
If
you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for
me, if you weren't in prison ... Your Father."
Shortly,
the old man received the reply from his son: "For heaven's sake, Dad,
don't dig up the garden! That's where I buried the Guns!"
The
next morning, A dozen FBI agents and local police officers showed up and dug up
the entire garden without finding any guns.
Confused
old man wrote another note to his son telling him what have happened, and asked
him what to do next.
His
son's reply was: "Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad, It's the best I
could do for you from here."
Moral
of the Will Power Story: No matter where you are in the world, if you have
decided to do something deep from your heart, you can do it!
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