Many a times we sit lonely and depressed, with our grief and sorrow embedded deep in our hearts. The eye sheds its tears and the hearts grows heavy with a hollow-like feeling.

A loneliness creeps in as we watch the hustle and bustle of the dunya, people walking by, busy in their lives. A tantamount of burden weighs heavily on our heart and it is in such situations of misery, that we find ourselves at the cross roads, a choice to do that which is right, however improbable it may seem, and the other choice that constitutes of deception, lies and falsehood. In most cases that wrong choice inadvertently leads to the threshold of a cycle-a cycle of misery as we endeavour to conceal  our errors and yet in striving to do so perpetrate even more lies and involuntarily propel the spokes of the cycle to continue moving. Oh! But no one is aware of my situation!

Are you worried, knowing that Al-Wadood, Ar-Ra’uf is watching us, best aware of our situation? He, the Almighty, is even aware of a dark insect crawling on a dark stone in a dark night, He (Glory be to Him) is aware of every leaf, every atom, every molecule.

Here we should take lesson from Ramlah daughter of Abu-Sufyan also known as Umm Habeebah (May Allah be pleased with her).

She was one of the early converts to Islam and had migrated to Abyssinia with her husband Ubaydullah bin Jahsh. Sadly, her husband apostate and converted to Christianity. This grieved her a lot, and to add to her pain, he took to drinking excessively and later died.

Now, Umm Habeebah was lonely in a faraway foreign country, with no one to support her. Her husband had died, and her father was still a disbeliever, and to cream to that, was the leader of the Quraysh (though later on, he accepted Islam). Therefore, she had nowhere to go. Dear friends, envision this with deep concentration; we can’t imagine ourselves leaving our homes for an hour! Yet look at the situation of the exceptional and exemplary lady, who not only prevented herself from showing ingratitude to her Lord (something we fall into for unconventional things, let alone being helpless the ways she was). She focused herself, and made the right decision; spending her time in ‘ibadah and taking care of her young daughter. Indeed she went through difficult times.

Truly, Allah knew what she was going through. She was blessed with one of the greatest blessings, a woman in her time could wish for, Allah chose her to be among the Mothers of the Believers. Her patience bore fruit and the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) married her. She is said to have narrated sixty-five hadith, not many in comparison to Abu-Hurayrah or Anas bin Malik, nevertheless, her exemplary patience and courage to make the right choice in the face of trials, is her legacy.

It was her earnest desire that her father and brother enter the fold of Islam, which they eventually did. She passed away during her brother, Muawiyah’s Caliphate, during the year 44 AH.

In summary, I would like to note a point, although the above passage was about the right decision, there is yet solace for those who messed up, for indeed yet again we have ample opportunity to repent and take the right course. Certainly, it will be more challenging compared to the first time, and Satan will arduously try to manipulate us, as he had done so the first time. Keep in mind, regardless of the inducements, Allah has given us the power to choose. Go ahead, and follow the right track! Beg of our Lord to help us and guide us for verily indeed, He is the Ar-Rahman; The Most Merciful.

Bint Hasan,

AAT