Qur'anic Reflections

Day 10 : Look on the bright side, stay positive!

We've all heard it. 

"God works in mysterious ways" 

Most times we don't get it. When we're faced with a tough situation, we whine and complain. We ask questions like "why me?" Or "why now?" 

And then months or years later, we look back at the ordeal and are thankful for the it, for it may have changed our life for the better! 

How many times has this happened to you? 

If I were to speak for myself-- quite often. 

In life, there will be times when you want to pull at your hair because not all things turn out the way you want to. 

But here's the thing. 

They may not turn out the way you want them to, but they always turn out right. 

We are only ignorant human beings unaware of the grand scheme of things, but Allah isn't. He is the knower of the unseen, the past, present, future and beyond. 

He is the Lord of the worlds, the invincible, the First and the Last, the Self-Sufficient. He could do anything with just a thought, a word--Be, and it is. 

Yet, such a powerful entity, in all of His Might and Glory loves you. 

If you look at it from the outset, it sounds absurd that someone as powerful and self-Sufficient as that would love a fragile being like you and I. 

But that is what makes our Lord beautiful. 

He cares for you and He loves you. 

He has written your destiny and knows that to reach the end of the book, there are some chapters that are necessary. 

Some plot twists that need to exist, some people you need to love and some you need to let go. 

He has a grand plan and the ways in which it is set will never be within the grasp of our minds. 

So look on the bright side. Always. 

It's not easy. Some times in all of the darkness, it's easy to forget where the light switch is. 

But it's always there. Search for it. Chances are, you'll find it soon enough. 

And when you still can't find the bright side, if it escapes your mind, think of your Lord at the end of that tunnel, promising you this : 

"... But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not."

-Sura Al-Baqarah, Ayah 216

I'll tell you a true story :

When I was posted for my surgical rotation, I was sorted out into a different unit than my friends. I had no one to speak to, the work was ten times more than my friends were doing, my Mondays were awful, I had no time to study because I would be working late, I would be the last intern to leave the ward and all I'd do after coming home was crash. 

I had less family time and even less time to socialize. 

My friends and family were sympathetic.

And if you'd ask me a month ago, I'd whine about how my life was terrible. 

But ask me now, and I will tell you lucky I was. 

Because in those 2 months, I have learnt more than any of my friends have. I have gotten more exposure and have met so many amazing people on the way. 

It has taught me how to manage my time, anger, hunger and sleep and it has taught me enough to tell you this : 

The universe is anything but random. There is always a reason, always as to why certain things happen and some times you can figure out why, but most times you won't, but go on anyway. 

Look on the bright side anyway. Keep your eyes on it and be alert, the reason will hit you straight in the face. 

It will take a while. But eventually, it will. 

Because it all boils down to how much you trust in Allah's plan. 

قُلْ لَنْ يُصِيبَنَا إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَانَا ۚ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ

(Sahih International)
Say, "Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allah let the believers rely.

-Sura At-Tawbah, Ayah 51

Stay optimistic, stay hopeful because Allah always does what is right for you!