When the children of Israel reached the sea, all hope was lost, they thought for sure there was no way out, and Fir’aun was finally going to catch up with them. They said as revealed in Surah (26: 61) “..we will surely be overtaken…” But Musa (AS), had full tawakul in Allah, and he said in Surah (26:62) “.. Nay, verily with me is my lord, He will guide me” Then Allah (SWT) instructed Musa (AS) in surah (26:63) to strike the sea with his stick and the sea split and the children of Israel were saved and Fir’aun and his group were drowned.
Pause for a moment dearest sis, what situation are you in right now that it seems like there is no way out?
This reflection is for my fellow sisters who feel broken and feel like their glass is completely empty and not sure how to even start refilling it. To my sisters who are exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure where to start. To my sisters who are too shy to admit that even though Ramadan is around the corner and so many people talking about having a plan, making a dua list, planning an iftar menu and invitations, the acts of ibadah you’ll engage in, you feel stuck and cannot even figure out where to start from. I say to you sis, you are not alone. Ramadan no doubt is a time of spiritual high for many people and it can be a good thing to set goals and plan ahead. But some people struggle to feel that connection or experience that spiritual high expected for so many reasons, and because everyone is talking about how excited they are, you feel like a hypocrite for not feeling that excitement.
To my sis who is lost, I would say do not despair in the mercy of Allah who is the most merciful. The children of Israel lost all hope, but Musa (AS), our example, knew better. In our most difficult times, in times when we cannot fathom a way out, hold on tight to the rope of Allah and do not lose hope. Do not worry about how everyone is sharing their Ramadan goals and how you do not even have a single goal written. Remember we are all in different seasons and stages of life with different circumstances as well as different support systems available to us. Do not hold yourself to the same standards as everyone else when you do not even know their full situation. Remember Allah judges each of us according to our unique life situation. Everyone’s’ trial is different. Remember your lord is full of mercy and he wants us to be merciful to ourselves.
While feeling down, one thing you do not want to do is lose hope in Allah and that is exactly shaytans’ plan. If the only thing you can muster is “Ya Rabb, please help me” hold on to that and keep at it. Repeat it over and over again. Let the tears flow if they come. Know that you have a lord who understands your needs more than you or anyone around you.
Sometimes we cannot fully find the words to articulate our needs and wants. We may feel too overwhelmed we do not know where to start. “Ya Rabb, please help me” is a good starting point. In those five words, Allah understands you more than you can imagine and he knows just what you need, he will come to your aid because he said in Surah 40:60 “…Call upon me and I will respond to you…” All you need to do is call and keep calling. Know that your lord would never forsake you if you hold on to his rope.
So, my dear sis who is not sure how she’ll pull through with all the to-do lists this Ramadan, “Ya Rabb please help me” should be the motto. Do not worry about the how do not try to calculate the possibilities because with Allah you can truly never know how he’ll open doors you never even knew existed. I am sure the children of Israel never imagined in their wildest dream the sea was going to split, but it did and they were saved. So do your part, be vulnerable with your lord, the kindest and subtle, the one who never judges you but is always ready to surround you with his mercy.
Posts
