Reclaim Your Heart

(Nora) #1

These perceived misfortunes are in fact wake up calls. They humble. They shake. They remind us of
how small we are, and how Great God is. And in that way they awaken us from the slumber of our
deceptions, our heedlessness, our wandering, and bring us back to our Creator. Hardships strip away
the veil of comfort from our eyes, and remind us of what we are and where we’re going.


Allah (swt) says: “...And We tested them with good [times] and bad that perhaps they would return
[to obedience].” (Qur’an, 7:168) In another ayah, Allah (swt) explains: “Whenever We sent a
prophet to a town, We took up its people in suffering and adversity, in order that they might learn
humility.” (Qur’an, 7:94)


This lesson in humility purifies the human soul so much so that Allah (swt) comforts the believers in
the Qur’an, assuring them that any pain they encounter is intended to elevate and honor them. He says:


“If a wound hath touched you, be sure a similar wound hath touched the others. Such days (of varying
fortunes) We give to men and men by turns: that Allah may know those that believe, and that He may
take to Himself from your ranks Martyr-witnesses (to Truth). And Allah loveth not those that do
wrong.” (Qur’an, 3:140-142)


It is that very battle to purify the self which is the essence of the upward path to God. It begins with
self-sacrifice, and is paved by the sweat of struggle. It is this path, which God describes when He
says: “Oh mankind! Verily you are ever toiling on towards your Lord—painfully toiling—but you
shall meet Him.” (Qur’an, 84:6)

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