Signs

      Asalam Aleykom people!!

                 So over a year ago this article was published in Help Club's Al-Qalam magazine. I had a lot of fun writing this article and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it. 

                                                                            Salam (Peace)!

                  

                                                                                Signs

                                                                    By: Habiba Ghanem

                  We often pray salat estkhara when we are faced with a tough decision. By praying estkhara we seek Allah’s (SWT) guidance. Allah sends us signs that help us in making our decision. Sometimes when we pray estkhara, our hearts are leaning more towards one of the choices. It is then that we may start to ignore the signs, the very same signs that are the answers to our prayers.

                  Once you start ignoring the signs, shaytan starts playing with your head, your emotions, and your ability to make a rational decision. In other words shaytan blinds you. By ignoring the signs, who are you trying to kid? You are just being dishonest with yourself.

                  Instead of ignoring the signs put your full trust in Allah (SWT). A great example of this trust, is when the terrible rumors started about Aisha. For those of you that don’t know the story, let me briefly explain what happened. Aisha was accidently left behind after she went searching for a necklace that she misplaced. To her great fortune a young man from the Ummah, came to the site. The young man was called Safwan and he offered Aisha a ride to the place where the others went. Upon seeing Aisha’s arrival with Safwan, some terrible people blamed Aisha for committing adultery and started rumors. Despite those appalling rumors, Aisha didn’t try to defend herself, instead she was patient and put her trust in Allah.  She recalled what Abi Yusuf had said; "So (for me) patience is most fitting. And it is Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought against that which you assert."(Quran 12:18). Indeed Allah helped Aisha, He sent a revelation to Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) proving her innocence.

                  When you pray estkhara and something doesn’t turn out the way that you expected, you are supposed to have reda (contentment). Didn’t you seek Allah’s guidance? Didn’t you want your prayers answered? Even if for the time being you don’t like they way something turned out, you must have reda, and know that it is part of Allah’s plan for you. “…But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.” (Quran 2:216)

                  If something didn’t happen as planned it’s because there really is something better on the way, you must have yaqeen. Don’t ignore the signs so you don’t end up with regret. As I mentioned before, by ignoring signs you let shaytan play with your head. When shaytan takes over, you leave room for committing wrong acts, they may be minor or major. Besides yourself, how many other people will you hurt by ignoring the signs? In the end if something is not meant to be, it won’t be. You can ignore the signs as much as you want, but if it’s not meant to be then be sure it won’t be. Always remember that, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

                                                         Allahuma Eni Ma3’loban fa intasir

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