The Productive Muslimah

The Number That Never Changes

He was right; having a good friend for over
fifty years is impressive. I was attending a
dinner in which a well-respected scholar and
professor was being recognized for his
accomplishments. Instead of focusing on
himself and his journey, he spent his entire
speech thanking the numerous individuals
that impacted his life. As he reflected on his
experience, he said one of the most rewarding
gestures he ever received had been from a
former student going out of his way to find
the professor's contact information to contact him and
thank him for the time and effort he put into his education.
I found it peculiar that after several decades of many
accomplishments, friends and family, one of the most
rewarding gestures the professor received was a thank
you.
It's true though. Sometimes, after trying so hard and
going out of our way to help someone, all it takes is two
words-thank you-to start the rush of accomplishment
and success. In fact, it happens all the time at work and
school when we get a pat-on-the-back for the job-well-
done on a project or a paper.
I used to ponder on the significance of giving "thanks" to
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala (exalted is He). Clearly there
is no benefit to Him, al-Ghani (the One that is free of all
needs). Slowly yet surely though, life comes to show that
it truly is the thought that counts; at the core, it's about
the very process and not the details. The very act of
giving thanks is a humbling comment; a recognition of
benefit and respect or even awe. The professor didn't
reminisce on the contents of the thank you, but rather the
fact that he was thanked. And notice - the value of the
thank you increased because the student was so thankful
that he was willing to thank his professor years later,
even at the cost of the student's time and effort. In other
words, the fact that his student was so thankful that he
thanked him again, was worth more.
We're so blinded by our own heedlessness and the thick,
murky fog of this dunya (the physical Universe) that we
readily miss the blessings that surround us. But when we
are so fortunate to see some of the things that keep us
standing, we don't have to search for Allah's contact
information. He's the friend that we've known the longest
and His number never changes wa alhamdulilLah (and
praise be to Allah).

Omarzarka