Allah knows

When I was in Cork, I was asked in an usrah I attend on how does my studies relates me to Allah. I was really surprised by the question since most of the people in that usrah were medical students who’d always have close relation to Allah in whatever they do.

But as for me, I never really ask that question until someone brought it up, although at first I was clueless of what to answer – the answer I made up on the spot left myself wondering later on of what I am doing.
Does it make me closer to Allah or does it bring me away from Allah? And if it did – how? If it doesn’t – does this means I forget Allah?
Well, my answer that time was that since I always with my video camera which I like to shoot peoples image to get a story, one of the things that will remind me of Allah is the video camera itself.
The camera be it a camera or the video camera works like our eyes, they have their own optic, retina, lenses and several part of the eyes which was applied during the invention of video camera. But the question is not the function of camera like the eyes but the fact that no matter how highly advanced the inventions made by us humans will never match the High Al Mighty’s creation.
Even up till now, we can never find any camera which can capture 180 degree view without ‘panning’ (the term when you shoot from 180 degree angle of an object we shoot) not even the stereoscopic view where humans see their vision or the visions that only animals do.
Because from my own personal experience, to only get a 5 minute documentary, I had to take at least 3 angles of the same view, a medium shot, close up and extreme close up for a more dramatic impact. If it were a short story I’d have to repeat the same action and repeat again if the action does not meet the director’s satisfaction.
Not only that, we’d have to take account on the lights whereby if we don’t get enough day light, we’d use the camera lights to give more lights to the subject. The lights itself would need at least 3 lights, with a ‘3 point lighting’ (position of lights) technique so that there wont have any shadows effecting the object we are recording.
That doesn’t include the make up and other factors that we have to take into account before we shoot anything. And only after a few days of editing process to add some sounds, voice over etc that we be able to view the video all in 5 minutes but actually 5 day to get a 5 minute video. All of the things mentioned will need to be used to get the ‘perfect’ visual but none of these were needed when we use our eyes – the most perfect creation by Allah.

Therefore, in whatever things we do, sometimes we may not be able to explain how our work does relate to Allah or even Islam itself.
But as long as our intention is ‘fissabilillah’ – for the cause of Allah, and that the work is not against the shari’ah (Islamic Law), it doesn’t matter because every action we do will be taken account by Allah. 
After all, Allah knows...

[A reminder to myself first and Foremost, in'sha'Allah]

Overcoming tests

By virtue of being created as human beings , we will tested . We will be thrown into countless trials, into situations that may arise unpleasant and awkward, and into times of difficulty when it seems as though there is little reason to hope.

Allah, Glory be to Him, says in the Quran:

 "Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, 'We believe,' and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those

 who are true from those who are false" 

(Quran, 29: 2-3).

Test will come at us from every direction, events will test the very core of our character and the strength of our beliefs. And these are the tests we cannot afford to fail. And Allah , Glory be to Him, has not left us empty-handed. Building our knowledge and our characters as Muslims is the only way. 

A "beautiful word" in this verse refers to the Islamic statement of belief : 

 la illaha ill Allah (there is no being worthy of worship except Allah). And the verse goes on to refer to a beautiful tree, which illustrates the character of a believer.

According to this verse, a believer is one whose Iman, or faith, is unwavering and firmly established. He or she cannot be swayed from the straight path by the winds of trials, no matter how fierce the storm. Knowing and believing that there is no being worthy of worship except Allah, Glory be to Him, and following His commandments provides a believer with the stability and confidence he or she needs to succeed.

A believer's branches also "tower in the sky" like that of the beautiful tree. By this analogy, a believer's Iman cannot remain hidden. A Muslim cannot claim to have Iman solely in the heart while not having it show in his or her actions.Deeds not words!!

Contrary to that, Iman is something so significant that by its nature, it must be seen by anyone who looks at or interacts with a Muslim. Your Iman raises you up to a higher moral level, just as the braches of the beautiful tree reach upwards towards to the sky.

These verses also mention that this tree that is compared with a true believer "gives its fruits at all times by the permission of its Lord". The tree of Iman is ever fruitful, unlike a real tree that only gives fruits at certain times of the year.

Your faith and your belief in la illaha ill Allah sustains you night and day, in every season, during times of ease and times of great hardship. This is the parable of the believer whose good deeds never take a vacation – they are continuous throughout the day and the night.

 The chapter goes on to say :

"And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree uprooted from the surface of earth having no stability" (Quran 14: 26).

An "evil world'" in this verse refers to disbelief.

Allah tells us that we will be tested. He also makes it clear to us what is expected from us when we undergo these trials and what our reward will be if we are successful.

He says: “Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives and the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Those who, when misfortune strikes them, say: ‘Indeed we belong to Allah and to Him is our return. Those are the ones upon whom are blessings and mercy from their Lord and it is those who are rightly guided.”

 [Surah al-Baqarah: 155]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"When Allah desires good for someone, He tries him with hardships".

[ Sahih al-Bukhari]

Such a person will not worry over possible future problems, nor will he grieve over past difficulties, for he is busy with the One he loves. This is true happiness and anyone who misses out on it will never know the meaning of contentment.

So know that Allah is testing us because

he wants good for us and he wants to see if we are going to come closer to him or

more further away from him.

Shaythan is wanting us to weaken and fail the tests from Allah so will we let shaythan win? Or will we make the best of these opportunities and get closer to Allah than we have EVER been?

For if we are patient then Allah is with us so NOTHING can hurt or effect us!

Allah mentions in the Qur'an:

“Indeed Allah is with those who are patient.”

If one is patient, and is among the ones described in the following manner in the Qur’an (Baqarah, 2: 256)

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihee Raaji'oon

“To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return”:-

The Reward for Patience is Paradise

So tests and calamitys are a blessing in disguise and Allah wanting us to get closer to him so if we bare with in with Patience hoping for reward then Allah is with us and best of all we will get closer to Allah and feel true contentment and happiness in the heart and we will attain Paradise inshallah!

[A reminder to myself first and Foremost, in'sha'Allah]