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Ask for the “Impossible”!

This is one of my favorite ayahs and it’s from Surah Maryam.

Allah tells us about a dua made by Zachariah عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. It has been preserved as a lesson for all time.

“He said, “My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy.”

(Maryam: 4)

See how Zachariah عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ describes himself. Can you imagine how old he had become? And what was this Prophet asking Allah for?

A child.

Zachariah عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ knew that it was impossible for someone in his state to have a child. But his eyes were fixed not on his own weaknesses but on Allah’s Power.

He is asking with so much hope – expressing how needy he is of Allah. Allah already knows but see how much detail he is using. He is saying: ‘Oh Allah, you have always answered my duas. You never left me empty-handed. I know you will respond to me.’

He didn’t know how Allah was going to do it but he knew that He would. He knew that Allah has no limitations.

He may have been old but his hope in Allah was massive.

The duas of the Prophets were so humble and hopeful. They were conversations with Allah.

Compare this to our duas. How often do we make formal, monotonous duas? How convinced are we that Allah will answer them?

This ayah teaches us how to make dua to Allah. Dua IS worship.

Don’t restrict your duas thinking of your resources. We aren’t asking ourselves, right? We are asking the One who has the treasures of the Heavens and the Earth. Nothing we ask Him is too great!

Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Allah the Almighty said: I am as My servant thinks I am…” (al-Bukhari)

So make dua being fully convinced that Allah will answer them.

Allah will give.

Allah will forgive.

Allah will protect.

He is Al-Qareeb, The Near One. He is closer to you than your jugular vein. He knows exactly what you are going through.

He is Al-Mujeeb, The Responsive One. He answers all your duas giving more than you even asked for ❤

Photo by raquel raclette on Unsplash

Posted in Surah Yusuf

Scene 2 – The Plot

The brothers approached Yaqub عليه السلام. You know how emotional blackmail is a very powerful tool? That’s what they used.

They wondered why their father didn’t trust them with Yusuf. They wanted to take Yusuf out with them the next day to have some fun. They would take care of him.

But Yaqub was hesitant. What if a wolf attacked Yusuf while they were off guard?

They insisted and were eventually able to convince Yaqub عليه السلام.

The brothers took Yusuf away and abandoned him in a dark well.

But in the well, in his loneliness, Allah gave Yusuf عليه السلام hope.

وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمْرِهِمْ هَٰذَا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
“But We inspired to him, “You will surely inform them [someday] about this affair of theirs while they do not perceive [your identity].”

( Yusuf : 15 )

That night, the brothers returned to their father crying. They told him about how they had left Yusuf with their belongings while they were racing, and that a wolf had eaten him. They even had a shirt with false blood as “proof”.

Yaqub عليه السلام saw through the lie.

قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
“He [Yaqub] said, “Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe.”

( Yusuf : 18 )

Lessons

  • The danger of jealousy and envy. Protect yourself from it and work to remove it from your heart.

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Beware of envy because envy consumes (destroys) the virtues just as the fire consumes the firewood,” or he said “grass.”

[Abu Dawud]
  • Your greatest achievements could begin from your greatest pain. There is a reason behind every event that happens in your life. Allah is the Best Planner. He is preparing you for a much greater responsibility.
  • It doesn’t matter how much you try to predict what will happen and try to stop it from happening, you can’t stop Qadr. If Allah willed something, there is a wisdom and goodness in it for you.
  • Place your hope only in Allah. Seek only from Him, not from people. Seek His Pleasure, and He will give you success with people too.
  • The brothers hoped to win their father’s love, but they didn’t. Sometimes we think that doing something bad will solve a problem, but it won’t. It will only make it worse.
  • The blessings and beauty of patience.