The Virtues Series: Episode 19 "The Bigger Win"

I was right
But in just a moment
I became wrong
I had given up because
The waiting time
Was just
Too long

But now,
Look what I have done
All the reward
I would have gotten
Is now gone

Replaced by pain
Enveloped by regret
No one ever told me
This was what I would get

If only I had just waited
Just a little more
Patience they say
Is at the first strike for sure

But I insisted
That I wouldn't let it go
A resolve
Fueled by my ego

I couldn't see that
Not every battle was mine to fight
And certainly not every wrong
Could be turned to right

By us,
Far from flawless
Limited
 in our knowledge

Truly patience is a treasure for a reason
Many times we are after the immediate win
We don't want to look weak
 or like we're losing

But a loss isn't a loss
If it is
For the Bigger Win.

"To be Patient is difficult, but to waste the reward for Patience is worse"

"O You who are patient! Bare a little more, Just a little more remains" -  Ibn Qayyim (Rahimahullah)

The Virtues Series: Episode 19 "For Jannah (Paradise)..."

He gave me a few bucks more
His miscalculation it was for sure.
Give him back was what i did
Coz Jannah's more precious than my greed.

She wouldn't speak to me at all
Yet i knew i had done nothing wrong
It burned my heart but i apologized
Coz Jannah's more precious than my pride.

He took one more look at his clothes
He loved his whites, especially those
But he gave them out to please His Lord
Coz Jannah's more precious than this world.

He looked at her with eyes full of love
She wasn't his yet, but his heart was on fire
He willed himself to look away
Coz Jannah's more precious than his desire.

She saw the pain in those children's eyes
Their parents' gone, no food or water
She gave them the meal she had just got
Coz Jannah's more precious than her hunger

It hurt to know what she went through
I held her hand but she only smiled
She said her hope was Her Lord's Mercy
Coz Jannah's really worth all the pain.

It gets hard
It gets tempting
To give up on good
Or do what's bad

But it's never a waste
To hold on to faith
Coz Jannah's really
Worth the chase.

The Virtues Series: Episode 18

"And by the Mercy of Allah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe (rude) and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from you; so pass over (their faults), and ask (Allah's) Forgiveness for them; and consult them in the affairs. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah, certainly, Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)." [Surah All Imran (3):159]

~~~~

He couldn't help but pause at this Ayah. It reminded him of that day. They woke up very early to prepare for their exam.

"All set?" He asked. As he saw her coming out of the room.

"Yes" She replied. "Okay then, let's go".

They were already 30 minutes later than the advised time to leave home in order to avoid the traffic. But he didn't panic because he knew another route. A traffic-free one. Still, it was best to go early.

He had told her they would leave by 7:00am, the exam was to start at 8:30 and all were expected to be at the venue by 8. It was a roughly 25 minutes drive from their home.

They had arranged all necessary documents the night before. Their means of identification, Registration slip, writing materials and everything else that was required.  She put them all together. Hers and His.

The road was muddy because of the heavy rain that fell that morning. Halfway through their drive, their car stopped abrubtly. Thank God they left early. He came out, opened the bonnet and touched a few things.

The car started again and they continued. More time-conscious this time. The ample time they had was now fast exhausting. 

Google map said they were 5 minutes away when she decided to go through their documents for a final check.

"SubhanAllah!" She exclaimed.

"What is it?" He asked.

"This is my old passport...not the new one"  she said, her voice failing. "They wont accept it, its expired" she added. Looking at the passport with disbelief. She could've sworn she carried the new one. She even mentioned it at some point. That making such a mistake would be grave. Yet there she was. She couldn't even look up at him. She must've been full of shame for the mistake she made. And already so angry with herself. 

As Sufyan remembered this event, he felt grateful to Allah for guiding him on that day. Truly it was by the mercy of Allah. For he was on the verge of making an outburst, but somehow found himself calm. He knew that adding fuel to the fire already burning in her heart wouldn't help matters but somehow he had to resist the urge. 

He remembered how he told her to stay put in the car while he rushed back home with a bike. There was no way they could've driven back with the traffic on the opposite direction. They were already late, it was 15 minutes to 8. He shut the door of the car behind him and rushed to cross to the other side of the road, where he got a bike to take him back. He returned, at exactly 3 minutes to 8 with the new passport and started the car towards their destination. 

He didn't say a word to her. She didn't say a word either. He imagined that she must already feel sorry, she must feel worried and regretful. She knew how costly it was to register for the exam. She knew what it meant if they missed it. They both knew and no amount of scolding would've changed anything. 

He imagined what would've happened if he had yelled, if he had let his emotions get the better of him. If he had vented his frustration and disappointment. How it would've affected them both, at the exam hall (if they made it) and at home. 

"....And had you been severe (rude) and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from you..."

This part of the Ayah kept ringing in his head...How true are the words of Allah...That day, if he had been harsh, if he hadn't shown graciousness and compassion by the help of Allah, if he had been cold and severe...He would've not just lost his exam but hurt his sister as well...and would it have been worth it.

People make mistakes. This could've been him. This could've been anything else. We do not plan to fall into potholes. we do not plan to lose when we do. When people make mistakes many times they are already feeling terrible about it. Sometimes it's not even something they could've been able to prevent. Sometimes they are ignorant of a better way. Sometimes they are just being human. And in all these times what they need are not voices that  break their eardrums or words that pierce their heart but compassion and leniency. Gentleness in correcting them. Respect and Benevolence in showing them a  better way. Yet it can truly be hard to give if not by the help and Mercy of Allah.

A broken spirit is much worse than a broken bone. A torn heart is much worse than a torn skin. So when people talk about the power of love they're talking about all of these. Kindness in the form of overlooking faults. Generosity in forgiveness and compassion. Patience. For without these there cannot be unity. Without these we would be breaking off from one another. And it's only by the mercy of Allah that we can have and give these.

~~~~

They reached the venue at 8:15. They were allowed into the hall, and they weren't even the last to come in. Everything happens for a reason. He thought, smiling to himself. And Allah is The Most-Merciful, Always Showing Mercy.

(May we be of those who continue to receive His Mercy throughout this life and the next)

The Virtues Series: Episode 17 "Best way to Give"

Safiya's eyes widened as she saw what her mum was packing for the visitors. She had taken from the Beverages in the store, took almost half the carton of the drinks they just got and she was approaching the fridge for the fruits next...

Nooo! Not the strawberries please! Safiya thought out loud.
Huh? Her mother turned, surprised to see that safiya was in the kitchen.

How long have you been here for? She asked.

Um, not long but just in time to Save our strawberries...whoa! Mum you would give mother Theresa a run for her money!

Haha! Come on, its not much.. this is the very least i could do...

Yea okay, but please not those ones, i really love strawberries...

That means i should take all of them! Her mum said, teasingly.

Mmm...safiya stood by with a fake sad face, not knowing how else to dissuade her mum from giving out her favorite fruit..

Just kidding! Her mother said poking her a little bit as she giggled.

But really, do you realize just how much Allah has blessed us safiya? When you have more than what you need it's a huge blessing, because for one thing you can fulfill your needs and second, you can fulfill the needs of others...

That's right...safiya said, thoughtfully.

And you know i read somewhere...that those who give in spite of their love for something, and out of love for Allah, are going to be rewarded greatly...

Yes subhanAllah, that's in surah Al insaan. I remember. Safiya added.

Mmm but you know how much i love strawberries though.

"Yes..." Her mum replied, not sure what safiya was about to say.

I think you should give them all of mine!

"Ma sha Allah! Someone is already seeking the countenance of Her Lord..." May Allah reward you and accept it from you...

But...I'll just take half of it..I pray that Allah gives you your reward in full for your intentions.

***

There is no loss when you give for the sake of Allah, there is only gain...and the best way to give, is to give from what you love; for the love of Allah.
At times you may give and not receive thanks, or you may give anonymously and no one gets to find out about what you've given.
Just imagine though that each time you give, you are giving to Allah...whatever you do, no matter how little doesnt escape His sight...so it doesn't even matter whether or not you receive acknowledgement or gratitude from people...give joyfully from the things you love, for the pleasure and mercy of Allah

The Virtues Series: Episode 16 "Big, Small or Not at All"

"Assalamu Alaikum mummy, do you know what happened at school today?"

"Wa Alaikumussalam wa rahmatullaah love, noo what happened??" I replied. Anxious to hear what my daughter had to share of her daily school stories.

"You know my friends, hajara & bint?"

"Yea..."

Today they told reallyyy big lies to our Ustadh. She said, spreading her palms apart to illustrate how big they were.

And I just told a small one, she added. Putting her two fingers together. Pleased with the size difference.

"Oh SubhanAllah! What lie did you tell? I said, creasing my forehead in disapproval.

"Umm.." Her voice started to crack, realizing I wasn't impressed.

"We were told to memorize the 30 Ayats of Surah Mulk...and I only memorized 29, but I told Ustadh that i memorized all 30"

"Hmm..."

"But hajara & bint...they both memorized only 10 & they also said they memorized 30..."

"No now, I didn't ask you about Hajara & Bint...but you really should have just told the truth...29, is really quite close to 30...but it isn't 30..."

"You know what? Think about this example...

If i had two cups of tea, and put just a little spoon of dirt in one and a big spoon of dirt in the other...which one would you take??"

"None mummy! I don't want dirt in my tea!"

"Exactly...not if you have a choice ..and in this case you do! You can choose not to take either of the two, just like you could've chosen to tell neither a big lie or a small lie but the plain truth!"

"Do you Remember what i told you the other day about truthfulness..."

"Yes! Truthfulness leads to Righteousness and Righteousness leads to Jannah..."

"What about lying?"

"Lying leads to falsehood and falsehood leads to Hell..."

"So you see, it's like taking small steps, while others take big ones...it doesn't matter the size if it's all towards the same direction, may Allah protect us!"

"Astaghfirullah (may Allah forgive me)  i think I'll need to tell Ustadh the truth...I really want to go to Jannah.."

"Bi idhnillah if we all continue with truthfulness we would go there.."

"In sha Allaah!" She replied. With renewed excitement.

****

I watched her run off to write herself a reminder on one of her sticky notes.
She really didn't want to forget to right her wrong when she meets her Ustadh (teacher) the next day.

"Remember to share the advice with your friends okay?"

"Sure in sha Allah!" She answered.

I couldn't help but admire her innocence as a child and the purity of her heart. We could only hope for such with all the mistakes and wrongs we have gathered.

How many times have we trivialized a wrongdoing just because others are doing worse, how many times have we felt better off with our little efforts while comparing ourselves with others. It's easier to accumulate little mistakes than big ones because you keep seeing them as nothing till they became a pile of wrong deeds.

When it comes to bad deeds we must never look at those who are ahead of us to feel better, rather we should look at those who are ahead of us in good deeds so as to strive towards emulating them and becoming better as well.

That is why it is said that, the ones among us who would be saved and not be at a loss are those who are the Saalihaat (those who constantly fix themselves i.e through those good deeds that seem trivial, avoiding what we know as wrong even if they seem little, through seeking forgiveness, correcting their mistakes, encouraging others towards good and more..)

They are the ones, who's hearts will be pure, they are ones who will return to Allah pleased and having pleased Him.

May we be among them ya Allah. Aameen.

The Virtues Series: Episode 15 "Planting Seeds"

Ahh that's right, there's one person I recall
I think I've got his number, he's one person I must call

I took my phone and dialed
While she looked at me and smiled

I wonder why you care so much
They've never tried to keep in touch

When last did they remember you
If I were you, i'd forget them too

But I need to do this, I explained
Reaching out is for my gain

It's like planting seeds you see,
Every good comes back to me

Keeping ties is one no less,
It's important, it's been stressed

There's no losing with good deeds
And I for one, am in dire need.

Would I forfeit what I know as true,
Just because it's done by few?

That many may tread the path to hell,
Shouldn't make us follow them as well

If you know what you ought to do
Don't wait till others do it too

And if you know what's clearly wrong
Don't do it just to feel among

She nodded, showing she agreed
And finally said the words we need

Let's plant our seeds, without measure
Perhaps one day we'll earn Allah's pleasure.