Mere coincidence?

Reading time: 4 - 6 minutes

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

By the Mercy, Generosity and Bounty of Allah alone, I’ve managed to memorise Surah Al-Humazah. Masha’Allah walhamdulillah la hawla wala quwwata illah billah.

To many of you that doesn’t mean much, because masha’Allah tabarak’Allah you are people who’ve memorised the entire Qur’aan, or vast sections of it, and thus for you, a short surah at the end of Juz ‘Amma probably doesn’t mean much. But to me it means a lot. It means a lot because I spent a very long time trying to memorise it, and I couldn’t. Just couldn’t do it. I thought maybe it’s coz it’s too long for me, or that the verses are complicated. No. Because I’ve learnt longer portions than that with ease. And praise is due to Allah alone.

So one day I became pretty impatient, and I thought ok you know what? I just don’t get this. Why can I learn the surahs around it, but not this one? I closed the mushaf somewhat irritably, and picking up a translation of the Qur’aan, I opened it to the relevant surah. It reads as follows:

1. Woe to every slanderer and backbiter.

2. Who has gathered wealth and counted it,

3. He thinks that his wealth will make him last forever!

4. Nay! Verily, he will be thrown into the crushing Fire.

5. And what will make you know what the crushing Fire is?

6. The fire of Allâh, kindled,

7. Which leaps up over the hearts,

8. Verily, it shall be closed in on them,

9. In pillars stretched forth (i.e. they will be punished in the Fire with pillars, etc.).

Woe to every slanderer and backbiter. I sat in stunned silence and I began to wonder. Is Allah trying to tell me something? I mean, I’ve never considered myself someone who habitually backbites or slanders people, in fact these are amongst the traits I’ve always hated, even in my pre-mullah days. So, how? I dunno how, I dunno why. But I know it dealt me a real blow, because I didn’t know what to do with myself. I couldn’t get my head round it and though I never told anyone, I felt so so ashamed, like Allah was warning me and speaking to me directly.

There was then a period in which I entirely suspended any sort of memorisation, until very recently. And going back to that surah didn’t exactly make me ecstatic. In fact, it made me feel deficient. Like there’s something wrong with me. But I guess before Allah you’re always deficient, always weak, always lacking - and that’s how it’s meant to be between the slave and the King. If your efficiency and deficiency can’t be expressed and overcome with the help of Allah, then how else do you expect to attain success? So now I’ve memorised Surah Al-Humazah, and when in salaah I recite it, and then say Allahu Akbar, I always smile. Because Allah truly is great, and by His Mercy, He not only warned me to change things, to step up a gear, but He also appreciated my effort. Otherwise I don’t think I would’ve ever learnt that surah. So all praise is due to Allah - yesterday, today, tomorrow. Always. “Verily our Lord is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate [good deeds].” [Surah Faatir 35:34]

I guess sometimes we get reminders, the perfect reminder at the perfect time. Like when you open a translation of the Qur’aan on a random page, and the page is filled with the most relevant ayaat, like it’s talking to you, addressing you specifically. Sometimes Allah sends us reminders through His slaves, like when a friend randomly says the right thing at the right time. What? You think that’s all coincidence? You kiddin me?! It’s like the turtle in Kung Fu Panda says, ‘There are no accidents.’

He, Who is closer to you than your jugular vein, closer to you than your own heart, He knows what is best for you, and when. So look out for His signs. Allah says, “Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. [Surah Aal Imraan: 3:190]. C’mon bro! If the day and night are from the signs of Allah, Most High, then don’t you think your day to day coincidences have something to do with His Perfect Knowledge and Decree? Get real dude! There are no accidents!!

In parting, I remind you that I’m not a scholar, I don’t know the sciences of the Qur’aan and I am not a pious slave of Allah. I’m a sinner, still sinning. So don’t take what I say to you as anything more than a reminder from one heart to another.

^^ This kids recitation is beautiful masha’Allah!!

Indeed Allah [swt] is a witness over us, and Allah knows best.

In the care of Allah [swt],

Wassalaamu’alaikum wa rahmatullah

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