Your life is replete with priceless moments

 

'Ali at-Tantawi related two poignant experiences in his journals. The first was when he almost drowned on the shores of Beirut. He was drowning and time was running out for him when he was finally rescued and carried unconscious to land. ln the brief moments of struggle before losing consciousness he recalls his utter submission to his Lord and his wish of returning to life, even if it was for an hour, to renew his faith, to do good deeds, and to try to reach the pinnacle of belief

 

The second instance was when he accompanied a caravan traveling from Syria to Makkah. While in the desert of Tabook, they lost their way and wandered aimlessly for three days. Their situation worsened when their supply of food and drink began to run out.

 

Everyone felt that death might very well be imminent. At this point, he stood up and gave a speech to the people: it was tantamount to a farewell speech to life. It was a heartfelt sermon that moved both himself and his audience to tears. He felt his faith increase and he truly felt that none could save or help them except Allah, the Exalted, the All-High.

 

(Whoever is in the heavens and on earth begs of Him [its needs from Him]. Every day He has a matter to bring forth [such as giving honor to some, disgrace to some, life to some, death to some, etc. ].1)

(Quran 55: 29)

 

(And many a Prophet fought [in Allah Is cause] and along with him [fought] large bands of religious learned men. But they never lost heart for that which did befall them in Allah's Way nor did they weaken nor degrade themselves. And Allah loves the patient ones)   (Quran 3: 146)

 

Verily, Allah loves those strong believers who challenge their enemies with patience and stamina. They don't give up, feel hopeless, or allow themselves to be humiliated at the hands of others. Instead, they struggle, strive, and toil. And these are the taxes that a believer must pay for the ultimate property in this world: faith in Allah, His Messenger, and His religion.

 

"The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer. And in each of them there is good"

 

Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) inserted one of his fingers into a crevice of the cave in order to protect the Prophet (bpuh) from a scorpion, and he himself was bitten in the process. The Prophet (bpuh) read upon him some Qur'anic verses and he became cured by the permission of Allah.

 

A man asked 'Antara, "What is the secret to your bravery, for you are known for your ability to overpower men?" He replied, "Put your finger in my mouth and let me put mine in yours." Each put his finger into the mouth of the other and each one of them began to bite the finger of the other, slowly increasing in intensity. Within a very short span of time, the man could hold out no longer and he let out a shrill scream, and so 'Antara loosened the hold his jaws had on the man's finger. 'Antara said, "This is how I overpower champions": in other words, with patience and forbearance.

 

A believer's spirits are raised when he appreciates that he is in close proximity of Allah's Mercy, Kindness, and Forgiveness. He feels Allah's protection and care with an intensity of feeling that is proportionate to his belief

 

(And there is riot a thing but glorifies His Praise. But you understand not their glorification.)     (Qur'an 17: 44)

 

Farmers in this country sometimes pass their time while sowing the earth by chanting:

"A dry seed, in a dry country in Your Hands, O' Creator of the heavens and the earth."

 

(Tell Me! The seed that you sow in the ground. Is it you that make it grow or are we the Grower?)  (Qur'an 56: 63-64)

 

The eloquent orator 'Abdul Hameed Kiskh, who was blind, ascended the podium to give a sermon. He took a date-palm tree leaf out of his pocket and on it was written "Allah" in beautiful writing. He then proclaimed to the congregation:

 

"Look at that tree, with its fresh branches, Who made it grow?

And decorated it with green?

He is Allah, Who is All-Powerful, All-Capable."

 

Those who attended the sermon broke out into tears.

 

He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. His signs are imprinted throughout the universe and all of creation pronounces Him to be the Creator. the One with perfect qualities, and the only One Who deserves to be worshiped.

 

(Our Lord! You have not created [all] this without purpose, glory to You!)

(Quran 3: 191)

 

Among the pillars of happiness is to know that our Lord is merciful and forgives the faults of the one who repents. S0 rejoice in your Lord's mercy, a mercy that encompasses the heavens and the earth. Allah, the Almighty, says:

(My Mercy embraces all things.)             (Qur'an 7: 156)

 

How tremendous is Allah's kindness! In an authentic hadith, it is related that a Desert Arab prayed with the Prophet (bpuh), and when they reached the end of the prayer, the man said:

 

"O' Allah, be merciful to me and to Muhammad, and don't be merciful to anyone other than us."

 

The Prophet (bpuh) said to him:

"Indeed, you have constricted that which is capacious."

 

(And He is Ever Most Merciful to the believers.)   (Qur'an 33: 43)

 

After a battle, a woman prisoner rushed between the Prophet's Companions to grab and protect her child. Upon witnessing this scene, the Messenger of Allah (bpuh) said:

"Allah is more merciful to His slaves than this woman is to her child."

 

ln an authentic hadith, it has been related that before dying, a man ordered for his corpse to be burned and his remains to be scattered throughout the land. Allah then put him together again and said to him, "O' My slave, what was your motive for doing what you did?" He said, "O' my Lord, l feared You and dreaded my sins."

 

Then, Allah made him enter Paradise.

 

(But as for him who feared standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure evil desires, and lusts. Verily, Paradise will be his abode.)

(Qur'an 79: 40-41)

 

Allah took to account a man who spent extravagantly on himself and was wasteful. Nonetheless, he was someone who worshipped Allah and did not associate any partners with Him. Allah did not find the man to have any good deeds except one: he was a businessman and would pardon the debts of those who were insolvent. Allah said,

"We are worthier of generosity than you are." Allah pardoned him and let him enter Paradise.

 

('And Who, I hope will forgive me my faults on the Day of Recompense, [the Day of Resurrection].)   (Qur'an 26: 82)

 

In Saheeh Muslim is an account wherein it is mentioned that the Prophet (bpuh) prayed with the people, and upon completing the prayer, a man suddenly stood and said,

 

"I have perpetrated a sin that is punishable by law, so execute the punishment on me." The Prophet asked, "Did you pray with us?" The man answered, "Yes."

The Prophet said, "Go, for you have been forgiven."

 

(And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's Forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful)        (Qur'an 4: 110)

 

There is an invisible mercy that surrounds the believer from every direction. The source of this invisible mercy is Allah, Lord of all that exists. He kept Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him) safe in the cave and He showed mercy to those known as the people of the cave. He protected Ibraheem (Abraham) from the effects of the fire. He saved Moosa (Moses) from drowning, Nooh (Noah) from the flood, Yusuf (Joseph) from the well, and Ayoob (Job) from sickness (may peace be upon them all).