I remember as a Christian, there is a verse in the bible which says “Consider it pure joy”.. when you are afflicted. This is such a high level of faith to be in and it’s something that most people regardless of their situation in life are able to embrace and to actually believe.
Yet, as Muslims, we have the resources to actually believe those words not only to be true, but to be achievable insha’Allah.
I am heading into my “middle years” and as I do I am actually enjoying the thought that as I have become older, so also insha’Allah I’m becoming wiser. It’s easy to think that the time is now coming when I have the “right” to relax and take life just a little easier. In some cultures I’d be considered not middle aged but “old aged”.. eek!!
Yet I am determined to insha’Allah embrace this latter stage of my life and to enjoy it. To take from it everything that Allah has written for me and to embrace it with pure joy. Why “pure joy”? Because it’s not easy to embrace the daily trials that are inevitable in a sense not only of patience, but of gratitude and even joy that I understand than EVERYTHING that happens to a Muslim is good for them.
I may have to deal with a lot of sickness.. it’s the age for that. Only Allah knows whether I”ll be spared or not of that trial. I am working hard on improving my health by looking after my body through exercise and diet .. but Allah knows best whether that will help me escape the illnesses of middle and old age.
I don’t know where I am going to live or where my home will be with my husband in the future. Settling down in one continent is not likely to be part of what I can expect.. but again.. Allahu Alam.. Only Allah knows that..
I don’t know if my sons will be near me or if I will need to leave them and move to another place.. and trust Allah for them .. but my Lord knows!
That is the reason why I can have the potential of “pure joy” no matter what happens. He KNOWS! Nothing is taking Him by surprise that happens to me.. and whilst there is the trial.. there is also the end of it. .and He knows it all.
My place is to embrace the life He has blessed me with and to live it taking advantage of today and the blessings of today.. even those things that may seem bad for me. Daily I am experiencing the joy of having a husband who shares and infacts more than shares.. challenges me in believing and accepting Qadr of Allah.. and how I thank my Lord, that with him by my side.. we are able to challenge each other to accept his favourite saying ”That’s life.. get on with it”. .. something my son embraced years ago.
I am getting older each day. I am experiencing new things every day. I am left with no alternative insha’Allah than understanding that accepting with joy the fact that my Lord is Sufficient and He is the best Disposer of my affairs” is best for me.. and seriously.. why would I (or anyone for that matter) want to trust anything less that that reality? I don’t even want to consider another alternative.
I ask Allah SWT to make this true for me, my husband and our families and for all Muslims everywhere ameen.
