Deep Down You Want To Submit
﷽
Deep down you want to submit. Deep down you want to turn away from your friends who aren’t striving to please Allâh… Those who mock you and call you names for merely fulfilling obligations, or being inclined to the religion of Allâh.
Deep down you want to stop chasing the life of this world, but your circle of friends only care about money, Harâm relationships and likes on Instagram. I know that deep down you know that you are not that kind of person, and you don't want to waste your time in the Dunyâ seeking society’s validation. Rather you'd love to be a servant of Allâh who is devoted to his/her Deen.
We all crave that strength to leave the life of this world behind; we want to practice the Deen, and more so we want to do it with our friends. We'd love for Mama to call upon Allâh rather than Mallam Salisu. We want Baba to stop shaving his beard and dragging his trousers. In reality all these changes we want to see start with working on ourselves. Know, may Allâh grant you success, that He (سبحانه) has mentioned:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوۡمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْۗ
Verily! Allâh will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allâh).
Sûrah ar-Raʾd: 11
If you want to see Tawhîd and Sunnah flourish in your household then be a person of Tawhîd, and call them to it with wisdom, good manners and gentleness. Likewise with the Sunnah, if you want it to manifest then implement it and do not fear the blame of the blamers. Your friends may not be on the same footing as you, the Dunyâ may be what they have chosen for themselves… Your own family members who you love and deep down you know they love you might give you an extremely hard time for practising the religion, they may even insult you and threaten you; strive to remain firm oh servant of al-Basîr (The One Who Sees All), and your reward is with Allâh.
I remind you with the reminder the believing man from the Ummah of Musa (عليه سلام) gave his people:
يَٰقَوۡمِ إِنَّمَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا مَتَٰعٌ وَإِنَّ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَ هِىَ دَارُ ٱلۡقَرَارِ
"O my people! Truly, this life of the world is nothing but a (quick passing) enjoyment, and verily, the Hereafter that is the home that will remain forever."
Sûrah al-Ghâfir: 39
I advise you with turning towards Allâh and striving to disassociate yourself from the worldly life and its glitters. Know, may Allâh bless you, this Dunyâ is merely days compared to the Âkhirah. Do not let your eternity go to waste because of mere days. Allâh mentioned regarding the Âkhirah:
بَلۡ تُؤۡثِرُونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا . وَٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ خَيۡرٌ وَأَبۡقَىٰٓ
Nay, you prefer the life of this world; Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting.
Sûrah Al-ʿA'lâ: 16-17
Imagine The One who created both the Dunyâ and the Âkhirah telling you that the Âkhirah is better! Indeed we will all die. The friends, the mockers, the name-callers, you will die and they will die. Donʾt let Shayṭân trick you into thinking you should delay practising your religion until you're age 'x', or till you're done with university, or till you're married. Death will meet you and I, and we do not know when, so what is upon us is to prepare! If you know you want to submit then do it to the best of your abilities. You want to start observing the correct Hijâb, you want to start seeking knowledge, you want to leave off bad friends… Just do it. Or have we not heard the Hadîth of Allâh's Messenger (ﷺ) :
Indeed, you never leave something for the sake of Allâh, The Mighty and Majestic, except that Allâh will replace it with what is better for you.
Musnad Ahmad 23074
So trust in Allâh, He is the best disposer of your affairs. When all your friends may leave, when family may leave you, the only One that will remain is Allâh! Don't forget that! Death is coming fast, with every second you are closer to your grave; strive to get there in a state of submission, constantly ask Allâh for a good ending and to grant you righteous friends who will push you to practice your religion.
May Allâh grant you success.
AMMAN Editorial.10 September 2022 - 13 / Safar / 1444 (هــ)