Accepting Allah's Decree
Yahya Abdul Rahman - June 10, 2008
Allah has reminded me in His holy book that: "No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooz) before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah. In order that you may not grieve at the things over that you fail to get, nor rejoice over that which has been given to you. And Allaah likes not prideful boasters" [Quran 57:22-23].
And on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Seek out that which benefits you, seek help only from Allah and never say you can't do it. If any adversity comes to you, do not say: 'If I had only acted in such-and-such a way, it would have been such-and-such;' but instead, say: 'Allah has decreed (it) and what He willed, He has done,' for verily, (the word) (if) opens the way for the work of Satan" (Saheeh Muslim).
In His holy book Allah also states: "Say: 'Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allaah has ordained for us. He is our Mawlaa (Lord, Helper and Protector).' And in Allaah let the believers put their trust" [Quran 9:51].
I cannot be in a true state of submission to Allah until I come to terms with and fully accept what Allah has destined for me, even if that destiny is personally uncomfortable. If I look at what others possess and have achieved - wealth, beauty, good health, sholastic excellence, friends, high social status, etc - and dwell upon those things with longing and envy, then I am not yet in a state of submission, I am not yet in a state where I can truly state that I completely believe and thus more inward work must be done. Allah says: "It is We who distribute their means of livelihood (sustenance) among them in the life of this world"(Quran 43: 32).
He, The Exalted, also says in the Quran: Say: "Verily my Lord enlarges and restricts the Provision to whom He pleases, but most men understand not. It is not your wealth nor your sons, that will bring you nearer to Us in degree: but only those who believe and work righteousness - these are the ones for whom there is a multiplied Reward for their deeds, while secure they (reside) in the dwellings on high! (Quran 34:36:37).
This state of submission is not always easy to achieve and will require struggle (Mujahada) because my nafs (lower desires) want one thing while my Creator has destined something else. Only when I can truly utter with my lips and believe in my heart- with the most firm conviction- that I am pleased with what Allah has decreed for my life and I want nothing else but to please Him and submit to His will, only then can I say that I have entered into a state of full submission and am no longer playing lip service to my faith.
Oh Allah, make me amoung those who submit to what you have decreed and help me to know the reality of the following ayat: "And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is ((Allah)) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion" [Quran65:3].