Dear Pious Reader,
I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my letters. This time, though, I would like to share with you an insight, some advice from a stranger.
During a recent visit to Nairobi, I met someone I had never known before. We happened to sit next to each other, and despite not being a very social person, we made small talk. As the conversation unfolded, we began sharing our life concerns. In the midst of it all, he said something that struck me deeply:
“When you ask Allah for money, He doesn’t drop it into your lap. Rather, He gives you the opportunity to make money.”
Those words first settled in my mind, then in my heart.
They reminded me of the story of Prophet Musa (A.S) when he prayed:
“Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqir”
“My Lord, truly I am in desperate need of whatever good You bestow upon me.”
Despite being a messenger of God and despite Allah’s ability to grant him anything instantly. Allah did not bestow wealth or comfort upon him outright. Instead, He gave him an opportunity: Musa (A.S) helped two women, and through that single act came blessings beyond measure. Allah blessed him with shelter, employment, marriage, and stability.
Likewise, when Maryam (A.S) was in labor, Allah did not send her a plate of food from the heavens. Rather, He instructed her to shake the date palm so that sustenance would fall. Even in her moment of weakness, effort was required.
Prophet Nuh (A.S) was commanded to build an ark right in the middle of his town. Allah could have sent angels to carry the believers away from the flood, yet He chose a path that demanded patience, labor, and unwavering faith.
These are just a few examples of how Allah works. A clear pattern emerges. Allah does not give things on a silver platter. He opens doors. He presents opportunities. What He asks of us is to walk through those doors, to wake up and try.
I believe we often misunderstand the concept of sustenance (rizq). Our provision has already been written no doubt but it is not meant to be collected through idleness. We are meant to pursue it.
The Prophet (SAW) gave us a powerful image of birds that leave their nests every morning hungry, trusting Allah completely (tawakkul), and they return full. Their trust does not stop them from flying, it fuels it.
This does not mean we are in control, but it also does not mean we should sit back and wait.
So wake up. Send that CV today. Attend that meeting you’ve been postponing.
Open that account. Write that business plan.
Do what you must do, all that you can do, then leave the rest to Allah. Because tawakkul is not trusting Allah without effort. It is trusting Allah after giving your best.
Yours,
The Soul Whisperer.
***
Assalam aleykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh Alhamdulilah my blog ‘Strokes of my pen’ has been nominated for the 3rd time by Bloggers Association of Kenya under ‘Creative Writing Category’.I’m kindly requesting for your votes.
Here’s how to vote:
1. Visit https://vote.bakeawards.co.ke/
2. Enter your details then click ‘Next’.
3. Scroll to the Creative Writing Category (number 3)
4. Select ‘Strokes of my pen’ then scroll to the bottom and click ‘Next’.
5. Click on ‘Send code via email’
6. A verification code will be sent via email. Enter the code then click on ‘Verify’.
7. Scroll to the bottom and submit.Make sure you see the submission notification, otherwise, your vote didn’t go through! Thank you in advance 😇
