Seeing Through the Dream

InFocus News
By: Yasmin M.

Seeing Through the Dream

I watched as the raging wind annihilated everything in its path. Now the storm was headed for our house. As it reached the front, the tornado ripped off the roof and began destroying everything beneath it. It seemed to last forever. By the time it had gone, there was nothing left. I tossed in my bed until suddenly…I woke up.

It was then that I realized that the complete destruction of my home was only a dream. I was now awake and the true Reality put everything into perspective. What I had once thought real, was only a fleeting dream. And yet, while I was asleep it seemed to never end. It was only after I awoke that I realized it had only lasted seconds.

What many people do not recognize is that one day every one of us will also wake up. Not from a dream of devastating storms, flying, or escaping a charging tiger—but from the dream of this life. At death, every soul will wake up from the dream of the dunya, and enter the Reality of the hereafter. Allah describes this awakening in the Quran:

“And the stupor of death will bring Truth (before his eyes): ‘This was the thing which thou wast trying to escape!’ And the Trumpet shall be blown: that will be the Day whereof Warning (had been given). And there will come forth every soul: with each will be an (angel) to drive, and an (angel) to bear witness. (It will be said:) ‘Thou wast heedless of this; now have We removed thy veil, and sharp is thy sight this Day!’" (50:19-22)

Our sight will be keen on that day, and upon that awakening, we will look back and feel as if the entire dunya had lasted no more than an hour. Allah says in His book: “On the day that the hour (of reckoning) will be established, the transgressors will swear that they tarried not but an hour: thus were they used to being deluded!” (30:55)

But the delusions of this worldly life are so strong and the mirage is so convincing; how can we ever escape it? How can we escape living in this life as if it were our lasting home? How can we keep from chasing after that mirage of the dunya, as so many have before us?

The Prophet (pbuh) taught us exactly how to see this life for what it really is. When offered a soft bedding, he (pbuh) said: “What have I to do with this dunya. I am like a rider who has sat under a tree for its shade, then went away and left it.'' [At-Tirmidhi]

It was for this reason that the Prophet (pbuh) advised us in his wisdom to “be in this life like a stranger or traveler.” A stranger forever longs for his true home, and a traveler is never attached to his stops along the way.

He (pbuh) taught us how to walk through the dream of this life with our eyes open, remembering always the words of Allah when He says: “And the worldly life is not but amusement and diversion, but the home of Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah. Will you not then reason?” (6:32)

Tawakkul, Hope and Striving

InFocus News
By: Yasmin M.

Tawakkul, Hope and Striving: Three Pieces of a Whole

At first she was terrified. She called out to her husband who now turned to leave. “Will you leave us here to die?” There was no reply. She called after him again. Still there was no reply. Suddenly she called out again: “Were you commanded by your Lord to bring us here?”
“Yes,” replied Prophet Ibraheem.

It was then that Hajar’s fear disappeared. Although she suddenly found herself alone in the middle of a desert, with her newborn child and no sign of water, she knew with full certainty that Allah would never leave her side. Her faith was strong, her conviction untouched.
But soon after Prophet Ibraheem left, her child, Ismail, began to cry from thirst. And although Hajar had complete tawakkul (trust and reliance) on Allah, she did not remain sitting, waiting for the water to fall down from the sky.

The reliance on Allah filled Hajar’s heart; but with her limbs, Hajar strove with everything she had. She began to run quickly between the mountains of Al Safa and Marwa, looking for any sign of water for her son. Each time Hajar came to the top of the mountain and found nothing, she did not despair nor did she lose hope. Her will was unshaken, and she continued to strive. In fact, Hajar strove so hard that the ritual itself became known as Sa’ee--which literally means “to strive.”

Many people confuse tawakkul with resignation and the secession of striving. But by no means does having tawakkul mean one ceases to struggle. The story of Hajar serves as one of the most beautiful examples of this lesson taught to us by our beloved Prophet (pbuh): When a man came to Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) and asked him if he should have trust in Allah or tie his camel and then have trust in Allah, the Prophet (pbuh) replied that he should tie his camel securely and then put his trust in Allah.

Tawwakul is not an act of the limbs—it is an act of the heart. And so while the limbs are striving hard, the heart is completely reliant on Allah. This means whatever the outcome of the limbs’ striving may be, the heart will be completely satisfied, knowing that it is the flawless decision of Allah.

But in order to reach this level, one must hold on to hope, strive with the limbs, and let go with the heart.