RETUNE YOUR HEAD
‘We send down the Quran as a healing and mercy for the believers’ [17:82].
The Quran is a remedy for all the false voices in our heads. All we must do is read our medicine regularly.
Here are a few Quranic rebuttals for our heads:
Head: I’m worthless.
Quran: But you are Banu Adam (the Children of Adam). It’s the appellation and honour Allah confers to all of us. You are the Adamic man and woman. You hail from Prophet Adam (as) and Sayyida Hauwwa (as). Not only that, you are also ummati Muhammad (s). Thus, worthwhile and beautiful.
Head: Life is about working hard, playing harder, earning my pension and retiring comfortably.
Quran: Your life is to worship Me (God).
Head: I’m beyond redemption.
Quran: Do not despair in the mercy of Allah.
Head: I’m still young. Focusing on piety is for when I’m older.
Quran: They (the companions of the cave) were youths who truly believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.
BALANCING LIFE
When studying the Prophet’s life thematically, it quickly dawns that moderation is a central theme. Not only did the Prophet (s) live with equanimity, but he (s) also urged his ummah repeatedly to it: ‘Be moderate and adhere to moderation, for there is no one among you whose deeds will save them.’ They said: ‘Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said: ‘Not even me. Unless Allah encompasses me with mercy and grace from Him” [Sunan Ibn Majah 4201].
And God’s most beloved warned of the violence of hate and love. The Prophet (s) used to say: ‘Love your beloved moderately, perhaps he will become hated to you someday. And hate whom you hate moderately, perhaps he becomes your beloved someday’ [Tirmidhi 1997].
The celebrated Lebanese poet, Kahlil Gibran, in his text The Prophet, penned the most stunning articulation of love’s balance:
“…
Give your hearts, but not into each
others’ keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain
your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near
together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow
not in each other’s shadow.”
These prophetic edicts of moderation are of the highest standard and teach that being amped-up is not how to play the long game. We would be wise to follow them, for they safeguard us from weariness, build consistency, and are the means to reach our goals.
We rush and falter. But slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. Thus, slow is fast.
Watch a body of water slowly collect itself, drip, drip, drip, until it builds enough energy and races down the path of least resistance to reach its destination.
Like water, we, too, can become unstoppable by building atomic energy; slowly, methodically, masterfully, craftily and efficiently.
Slow but combined with moderation, in the long game, is how you win the race.
Until next week, InshaAllah
P.S. Remember to write weekly to the President
Zaahied Sallie
Author of The Beloved Prophet – An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme
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