Reclaim Your Heart: Personal insights on breaking free from life's shackles

subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) tells us, "Indeed, Allah will not change
the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves." (Qur’an,
13:11) It is, therefore, because of their character that the condition of a
people can change from a world superpower to the froth on the ocean. And
it is only by changing the hearts and character that what was once only froth
on the ocean can once again become strong.
Hence, we as Muslims should never lose hope. The nasr (help and
victory) for His deen is promised. The question is whether you and I will be
part of it. Allah (swt) reminds us of this in the Qur’an when He says: "So do
not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true]
believers." (Qur’an, 3:139)
It is only by our sincere faith and our striving, that Allah (swt) will ever
change our condition. So for the sake of those bleeding in Syria and
Palestine and all over the world today, we, as an ummah, need to wake up
and return to Allah.
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When Prophet Musa (as) stood in front of the Red Sea, a tyrant and his
army approached from behind. Some of those in Musa’s midst began to
divide. Looking ahead, those people saw only defeat:
"And when the two bodies saw each other, the people of Moses said:
‘We are sure to be overtaken.’"(Qur’an, 26:61)
But Musa (as) had different eyes. His eyes were spiritual eyes that saw
through the illusions of worldly hardship and defeat. He saw through. With
a heart connected to the Most High, looking at the same seemingly
impossible situation, Musa saw only God:
"(Moses) said: ‘By no means! My Lord is with me! He will guide me
through!’" (Qur’an, 26:62)
And indeed Allah did just that:
"Then We told Moses by inspiration: ‘Strike the sea with thy rod.’ So it
divided, and each separate part became like the huge, firm mass of a
mountain. And We made the other party approach thither. We delivered
Moses and all who were with him; But We drowned the others." (Qur’an,
26: 63-66)
Today in Egypt, we are standing in front of a Red Sea. Today in Egypt,
a tyrant and his army are at our back. Today, there are some who see only
defeat. However, there are others whose eyes are looking through the
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blockade to the path and the hope beyond it. Today in Egypt, there are some
who—even with a tyrant at their back—are saying:
"Indeed my Lord is with me, He will guide me through."
One might wonder why, at such a critical time in history, we would
retell an ancient story. Why would something that happened thousands of
years ago be relevant today? The reason is that it is not just a story. Nor is it
ancient. It is an everlasting sign and a lesson for all time. In the very next
ayah, Allah says:
"Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe." (Qur’an,
26:67)
It is a sign of the Reality of God and the secrets of this world. It is a sign
that tyranny never wins and that obstacles are only illusions, created to test
us, train us, and purify us. But most of all it is a sign of where success
comes from. And it is a vision of what that success, against all odds—at a
time we think we’re trapped, defeated, and powerless—really looks like.
Some might ask why, if we are indeed on the side of God, does victory
not come easily. Some might wonder why God doesn’t just give the
righteous victory without immense struggle and sacrifice. The answer to
this question is also given by God. He tells us:
"And We did not send a prophet in a town but We overtook its people
with distress and affliction in order that they might humble themselves
(reach a state of tadaru’)." (Qur’an, 7:94)
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Here, Allah says that the purpose of the affliction is to reach a state of
tadaru. Tadaru is humility before God—but it is not just humility. To
understand the concept of tadaru, imagine yourself in the middle of an
ocean. Imagine that you are all alone on a boat. Imagine that a huge storm
comes and the waves become mountains surrounding you. Now imagine
turning to God at that point and asking for His help. In what state of need,
awe, dependency and utter humility would you be in? That is tadaru. Allah
says that He creates conditions of hardship in order to grant us that gift.
God does not need to make things hard for us. He creates those situations in
order to allow us to reach a state of closeness to Him, which otherwise we’d
be unlikely to reach.
That priceless state of humility, nearness and utter dependence on God
is what the Egyptian people have been blessed with today. Allahu akbar—
God is great. But Allah mentions another purpose for these hardships and
struggles. He says:
"And We divided them throughout the earth into different groups. Of
them some were righteous, and of them some were otherwise. And We
tested them with good [times] and bad that perhaps they would return [to
obedience]." (Qur’an, 7:168)
In Surat ali-Imran, Allah tells us:
"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. Allah’s object also is to purify those that are true in Faith