Opportunities to Remember God

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during my testing time. I tried to realize the opportunity offered to me.  Many a time we fail to realize the hidden opportunity given to us by God, because the human being is impatient.

[17:11] The human being often prays for something that may hurt him, thinking that he is praying for something good. The human being is impatient.

[21:37] The human being is impatient by nature. I will inevitably show you My signs; do not be in such a hurry.

Sometimes we get angry or upset over a petty issue. When things don’t work as we wish, we become grumpy. But just imagine a person losing his most beloved son and at the hands of his other sons due to envy, yet he does not show any sign of anger. He simply shows patience and leaves the matter to God. I am talking about the prophet Jacob, who gave us the best example of patience and trust in God after losing his beloved son Joseph (12:18, 83). Jacob grabbed the opportunity to show patience and reverencing God at the right time rather than blaming or cursing or abusing anyone.

Another example of patience is Abraham and his son Ismail (37:102). We all know how Ismail showed patience by being ready to let his father sacrifice him to realize a satanic dream. Is this not an opportunity grabbed by Ismail and Abraham both to please God? I feel the level of patience, trust and reverence to God shown by them is possible only because they gave the least importance to this temporary life in this world. Their sole objective was only to make it big in the Hereafter. Should we not aspire to be in their company in the Hereafter?  To realize this aspiration, we must always be ready to grab every opportunity to please God.

When we plan for a vacation, we book tickets months in advance; we pack our baggage; we plan what we’ll take along.

I feel our journey to Heaven can be compared to planning a holiday. But the procedure is bit reverse. Here first we have to arrange our baggage loaded with righteous deeds, only then our berth in Paradise will be confirmed. People like me who have crossed the age of forty have to try hard and get a confirmed seat in the Paradise. I must make sure that all my actions and deeds are well in accordance with the guidelines mentioned in Quran. I cannot afford to miss a single opportunity to believe in God alone, reverence God, praise God and appreciate the blessings of God.

[41:30] Those who proclaim: “Our Lord is GOD,” then lead a righteous life, the angels descend upon them: “You shall have no fear, nor shall you grieve. Rejoice in the good news that Paradise has been reserved for you.

[4:57] As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, we will admit them into gardens with flowing streams; they abide therein forever. They will have pure spouses therein. We will admit them into a blissful shade.

All this will become true, only if we utilize the opportunity given by God in the best way.

On the Day of Resurrection when hell fire will be shown to the disbelievers they will start playing the blame game (37:27) but by then the game will be over. Though God has given them hearing, eyesight, brains and wisdom they failed to catch the bus of righteousness. They never found any fault in themselves. Rather, they always tried to find faults in others.

“Through life, I kept making this mistake again and again;
The dust was on my face, and I kept wiping the mirror.”   
(Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib)

We should never forget that the present temporary life given to us is the final opportunity to make it big in Paradise. Therefore, let us make sure we do what we need to do.  We will try and grab every opportunity that comes our way to please God.

[3:191] They remember GOD while standing, sitting, and on their sides, and they reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth:

“Our Lord, You did not create all this in vain. Be You glorified. Save us from the retribution of Hell.

We will not leave any opportunity to commemorate God be it small or big. Eating, drinking, looking at our lives, we will not forget, God willing, to appreciate God’s grace for arranging it all for us.

Abdul Ghani

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