TRUE NORTH
Life is hard.
Because of widespread global inequality, hardship is the standard position for most. But the believer draws solace knowing the degree from difficulty to ease is Allah.
First, we must set a True North bearing that leads to Him. So, we turn to the Quran as our compass and His verses to set an approach.
The Quran, replete with accurate coordinates, can transport us from difficulty to Allah’s help.
Here are a few to set a bearing and confidently navigate towards Divine aid:
2 45 Q, 2 151-153 Q, 2 214 Q, 3 126 Q, 3 160 Q, 4 45 Q, 7 128 Q, 14 7 Q
THE SACRED OPENER
Allah has ordained four months as sacred.
Muharram: the last of the three sacred consecutive months (Thul Qa’da, Thul Hijjah and Muharram), is also the opener of the Islamic Hijri year.
Rajab lines up as month seven on the Hijri calendar to complete the four lunar hallows: ‘Indeed, the number of months ordained by Allah is twelve—in Allah’s Record since the day He created the heavens and the earth—of which four are sacred. That is the Right Way. So do not wrong one another during these months. And fight the polytheists together as they fight against you together. And know that Allah is with those mindful of Him’ [9:36].
Islam’s second caliph, Umar ibn Khattab (ra), introduced the dating system for the Islamic calendar. He chose Muharram as the first month and set the first year with the Hijrah—Migration of the Prophet (s) from Makkah to Madinah.
Thus began the Hijri era, AH, Latin for anno Hegirae—in the year of the Hijrah.
The Hijrah is a defining moment in Islamic history. Hence, Sayduna Umar (ra) chose it for the Muslim almanac.
The Hijrah teaches us many lessons, but the most profound is the calming words the Prophet (s) uttered to his best friend, Abu Bakr, during their perilous migration.
Bounty hunters had tracked them to the Ghār Thawr—Cave of Thawr and encircled by the prospect of death, the Prophet (s) said: ‘lā taḥzan innallāha ma’anā—Do not worry, do not be sad, do not grieve, God is with us’ [9:40].
For 1446AH and beyond, when facing life’s challenges, remember the Prophet’s words: ‘lā taḥzan innallāha ma’anā.’
We don’t know what we don’t know.
When we learn something new, we realise how little we know. The degree of the realisation arcs more if the subject is alien to our field of knowledge.
Incompetence precedes knowledge. So does humility.
But the incompetence is still unconscious. We only become awake to it when the pedagogy begins. From here, we move from unconsciously incompetent to consciously incompetent. If we apply ourselves and understand the subject well, we transition from unconsciously incompetent to consciously competent.
We discover we can only become more adept and qualified through knowledge.
But this is not the final station. Mastery is. And the sign of the master is he who is unconsciously competent.
Until next week, InshaAllah
Zaahied Sallie
Author of The Beloved Prophet – An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme
Thanks for reading. Every Friday, I share thoughts and ideas to help cultivate the link between Allah, the Prophet and me (meaning YOU). Enter your email now and become part of the link.
| There are no products |