Monday, July 22, 2013

When One Door Closes, Other Doors Open

Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah...

These few weeks of not being an employed citizen of Singapore, is actually a blessing in disguise. To others, they see me as someone unemployed. But to myself, I believe I am now working more for Allah, to fulfill my mission - my long awaited mission of learning about the role models I missed at the time of the Prophet s.a.w. Yes, his family, his Sahabah, Sahabiyah...

This I believe is the emptiness that I have felt all the while. Being someone who likes to read motivational books, I often questioned myself about the relationship of the content or the tips to Islam. And I would not be able to believe or incorporate the advice suggested unless I see its relevance to attributes of Allah.

For example, one tip which I found useful in my life, is related to a Hadeeth. I could still remember this tip being articulated by Dr Fadzilah Kamsah: 

It's easier for you to pass, than to fail. Exams are meant to make you pass. A teacher will not test you on what you don't know. Allah will give you a test that you CAN PASS.
ا“Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear…” (Qur’an, 2:286).

An excerpt from suhaibwebb.com from the article titled: A Soul's Burden
Even if we pray, fast, pay our zakat and do all different forms of ibadat we still get tested. Sadness sometimes fills our hearts. We could be the best of practicing Muslims, yet poor and unable to put food on our table. We could be rich yet lonely, or young yet unhealthy. It is in these instances that shaytan starts toying with our head. We look at what others have, especially the non-Muslims, and our core gets rattled. The shaytan ignites a fire that gets our blood boiling, hopelessness and frustration set in, and we ask “Oh Allah, why me?! Why am I being punished?”

This was quite similar to what I used to feel. I did ask myself if indeed this problem that I have is a punishment from Allah, and then I got depressed. But I decided to turn my feelings around completely. Instead of getting lost in these negative thoughts, I just sprang into action. Because I know there is a bigger reason why Allah gives this challenge to me: He wants to improve my quality.

I got myself into some really serious learning. I researched what I need to study about web designing. Not only using a single platform but on two different platforms. I invested some money in a course on web designing on a different platform.


Then I set up a website where I record what I find useful and relevant about the heroes and heroines during the Prophet's time. And Alhamdulillah, I made friends with people who are on the same track and we motivate one another. 


Not only that, I have also learned to do more than the basic photo editing and also make typography videos. These skills will be good to know to make video presentations, inshaAllah, as a tool to share useful knowledge.


While I don't look like someone who is contributing to the economy now, I like to see myself as building a legacy, for my children and the rest of the younger generation to benefit from. My blogs and my website, will go to them when I die. This greater awareness of the people of the past, is meaningful to me, because the trials and tribulations they have gone through are much bigger than what I am going through, yet they remained steadfast, they acted courageously, they acted wisely and they seeked Allah's help wholeheartedly.

I hope through reading what I have written, my children will be better equipped to face the challenges of the world, and be motivated to pursue success, not only in this present world, but also in the Hereafter, InshaAllah, Ameen, ameen, ameen!