Less Expectations

The past few weeks had been quite busy and I had to admit that I made some effort to reach out to some of my acquaintances, though, in limited terms. I noticed that there had been many changes, and some that remained the same. I found the noise and the hustle-bustle of other people to be very disturbing, to say the least. I tried reactivating my account on a social networking site which I joined around three years ago. As I browsed through its feature called ‘news feed,’  the lives and the noise of other people were publicly broadcasted, including the tiniest details and seemingly nonsense things are being shared for everyone to see. To at least try mitigating the somewhat materialistic and attention-seeking people that I know and see there, I posted some inspirational and Islamic messages so that they could read them and get acquainted with the Islamic Faith. To my surprise, no one actually paid attention to my messages, including the people who were calling themselves Muslims! How could this happen? There were even Muslims who were posting things about Islam, but these very people are using God’s words to seek popularity and be liked by people! Isn’t this a form of associating partners to God, isn’t this a form of conceit and hypocrisy? Afterwards, I posted some art and photography-related stuff, and then, lo, there were a number of positive feedbacks! How could this happen?

Are people getting more and more worldly and senseless about the true realities of life? Why are they so heedless about God, about faith, about the transitory reality of this worldly life? Aren’t they aware that this world is only a test, and a deception? That one day, they are all going to die? They are doing all their best to get everything that they want, but for what purpose? They had become so blinded to the truth, what they seek are money, material things, fame, popularity, attention, all the transient things that take away the remembrance of God. They wander about in life, doing all that they want, while being rebellious to God and insist on disobeying Him! How could they be so ingrate! They had made their own freedom and desires as their god! Isn’t this a form of idolatry? No one values solitude, beautiful silence, faith, and the simple joys of life of always remembering God and appreciating the signs that He shows to us. No one appreciates the truth and the genuineness of being a true human being, free from the lies, deceit, and corruption of values of this so-called modern society. It’s so sad to see that many are losing their sense of shame, exposing what is not meant to be exposed, saying nonsense and vulgar words, while they proudly wave the flags of the sins that they commit.

We are all to be reminded that one day, each one of us is going to be questioned as to how we spent this life. Because in the first place, we are not our own creator, we are not born in this world due to our own liking or to a mere chance or coincidence. We were once not a thing worth mentioning, and one day, we will only be thing not worth mentioning too. And even if we admire ourselves and take pains of overly admiring our fellow creations, one day, we will all face the One with whom we owe our existence. We were given a body, a mind, a free will, and intelligence to discern as to what we should do with this life. Along with these qualities is a responsibility to undertake, not to merely satisfy ourselves and do everything that we want. That responsibility is to recognize and worship the One God who created us, and obey His commands, and stay away from the things which he forbids us. No one knows what is better to His own creation except the Creator. The created cannot be better than the Creator. And even if the created thinks that he is better and that he can rely on himself, he will only deceive himself, because he is still subjected under the Power and Command of God. When God orders something that means that it is for our own good, and when He forbids something, that means that it will be harmful to us. But many people choose to ignore and be blind to this truth. They choose to rely on their own limited thinking and judgment, and invented things which are contrary to the truth.

“…Thus we have made fair-seeming to each people its own doings; then to their Lord is their return and He shall then inform them of all that they used to do.” (Qur’an 6:108)

 Praise God, I am very thankful to simply just be a quiet introvert and so-called ‘aloof’, because I choose to stay away from the corrupted environment that I see around me. Had it been that I was more noisy and sociable, I could have risked myself of the dangers that I might encounter by associating with corrupted and evil people. I had been through this and that, and with the yet twenty-something years of my life, I had experienced the worst and observed the worst.

I should learn this time to expect less from myself and less from other people, and rest my hope to the Will of God, the Provider of Everything. At first, there were many trials in life that were hard for me to accept and understand. But through these obstacles, God gave me what is better and what I truly deserve.

Sometimes, I cry and my chest feels as if it were to burst open because of the extreme pain and the alienation that I experience with my environment and surroundings, while I see that people are becoming noisier, immoral, superficial, and heedless and refuse to believe to the truth. I wish to travel and live to a far place where I could worship God more and strengthen my faith, to be surrounded with people like me who are genuinely practicing Islam and are staunch against anything that will corrupt it. 

I could not bear to compromise my principles just to conform and belong, because I believe that it is not right to compromise my faith just for a temporary and shallow gain. They may get everything that they want in this world, but I have preferred to stick to my faith and religion and hope for the Hereafter which is better. I wish to fully adhere to my contract with God, which is to worship Him alone, and obey Him, and in the end, I ask Him for the better one which is Paradise, insha'Allah. 

(Written May 12, 2012)

Busy and Happy Girl

I just would like to keep this little memory alive. And to tell you frankly, I'm feeling so happy!

As I've mentioned earlier, I am going to face the outside world again after a period of three years! And it's a slow process of healing, but now, my chest feels a lot lighter, the sadness is being replaced with joy and lots of energy. Sometimes, there are are disappointments and frustrations, but based from what I have learned from the 'past', it's good to note that I know how to deal with them better and with a proper perspective. We can't really get there if we won't experience the worst, isn't it? I can say, I've been through it, and it's rewarding to survive it, and now it has made me a less bitter and a lot better person. I have learned to let go (though this sounds so overused cliche).

After being so absorbed with two things called 'heart' and 'life' pain, I had been to with so many goings-on, including being employed in our Islamic library. Here are some of the activities I had been attending to: 

- Reviewing more about Islam and reading a lot of Islamic books.

- Organizing weekly Arabic Classes in the library.

- Reading the Original Arabic of the Noble Qur'an.

- Refining my ideas to prepare for the writing of my upcoming book.

- Being able to update my writing exercises on a regular basis.

- Making more driving practices with my parents and siblings.

- Taking many photographs and learning the art of photography.

- Improving my online art portfolios.

- Traveling, discovering, and seeing many different places and people.

- Being relieved of the extreme summer heat because the refreshing rainy season has started.

- Being optimistic about the present.

- Planning for future studies (as always).

 That's it for now. Time to eat lunch! :)

- Maica

Signs to Reflect

“Allah has created every moving (living) creature from water. Of them are some that creep on their bellies, and some that walk on two legs, and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills. Verily, Allah is Able to do all things.” (Qur’an 24:45)

I can’t believe that after I read this verse from the Noble Qur’an that I can’t help but cry. Seldom do I get truly affected when I read, but these words left an impact on to my heart. I felt like God was directly talking to me. These were very simple words which are easy to understand, but to fully comprehend the wisdom behind these words and feel them with ones own heart is one of the most beautiful things that ever happened to me. It seemed that all the heaviness that I carry on my chest is slowly being removed away. Tears fell and I cried with all my heart. This verse tells us how Wise and Compassionate our Creator is, that from this substance called ‘water’ He can create many different creatures. Some are small, some are big, and all of them have their own unique forms and characteristics. How amazing the Power of Allah is! He is Able to do all things!

When all of us are so drawn away from all the affairs of our worldly lives, Allah’s Wisdom and Compassion is able to reach even the other creations which we do not even take time to notice, and most of the time we take for granted.

No human being can create even a small worm creeping on its belly, out of water. But Allah emphasized that even a small worm has its own merit and that ‘Allah does not ignore even a small worm.’ No matter how intelligent and brilliant a human being is, no matter what kind of success he had achieved in his life, he cannot create even a small worm, out of water.

We are very busy with all the things that we work hard for but do we take the time to reflect on the many signs that Allah, our Creator, is showing us? Do we show Him our gratitude and do we obey His commands? Are we even aware that our life in this world is temporary and one day we will die? Of what use is our intelligence, hard work and perseverance if we are ungrateful, arrogant, and do not recognize our very own Creator? And when our time comes, are we prepared to face Him for fulfilling the purpose for which He created us, which is to worship Him, alone? Or had we spent our time in this world just to enjoy and fulfill what we personally like?

“And the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But far better is the house in the Hereafter for those who are Al Muttaqun (the pious). Will you not then understand?” (Qur’an 6:32)

Allah’s Mercy and Knowledge reaches all, even to the tiniest creature, or to the tiniest particle in the universe. He is All Aware of His creation and in His Infinite Power, He is Able to maintain the order of the vast and wide universe and prevent its destruction until the appointed time.

“See you not that Allah, He it is Whom glorify whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, and the birds with wings out-stretched (in their flight)? ...” (Qur’an 24:41)

And as these words were read silently on my heart, I heard the chirp of the birds outside my window. The tears flowed again on my eyes. As these words were being told to me, the birds outside my window testify to their truth. Who else lets these birds flying in the sky with all their wings outstretched in flight except Allah? Is there any human being who directs the lives, flight, the chirping, and the direction of these birds? No human being can do that. And these birds with their outstretched wings in flight, glorify Allah, their Creator, fulfilling the purpose for which He created them. All the creation of the heavens and the earth is a proof for mankind to learn a lesson and know that the only Creator and the only Organizer of this entire universe is One (Allah).

“And we created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a (mere) play.” (Qur’an 21:16)

We are all given by God with free will, sufficient intelligence and abilities. Along with these gifts, lies a mission to undertake. Our life in this world is not a mere chance or a coincidence, but with a definite purpose. People had been searching for this purpose since a very long time, asking questions and making many theories and fields of inquiry. But we are not left by God to search for this purpose in vain, because He had given us a complete and concrete guidance. He had revealed in His final book, the Noble Qur’an the purpose for which He created us, so we no longer need to stretch our necks and backs just to know what the truth is.

“And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).” (Qur’an 51:56)