By: Said Salim
Human beings are so strange. I mean people follow traffic light rules with so much fear in their hearts just to avoid causing accidents. We have people who are patriotic to their countries following the rules of the government with no intention whatsoever to cause trouble, for the charges of the crimes are extreme. Try asking anyone to break the rules and you will be in trouble for rising such a disgusting topic. But don’t get me wrong, these people are good people, good to their countries.
What we neglect, are the rules that govern our souls and our bodies. We are ready to follow the rules of the country but why is it so hard to follow the rules that govern our bodies? The one who obliged these rules is none other than our Creator and He only wants what is best for us. If people follow the rules then it is of their own benefit and if they do not follow them then they are the ones who are in a great loss.
I understood this better the moment i associated with people who only desire goodness for their fellow people. Just imagine there are people who are always there twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week trying to look for projects and activities not for themselves, but for the community. Projects and activities that would make the youth and the ummah to be on the right path.
If the human being was able to contemplate the favors bestowed upon him by His Creator, then he would be following the rules created by Allah with love and compassion. As i contemplate the favors, that Allah has bestowed on my close friend Ali (name changed for privacy) with, who shared his story to me and trying to speak out loud for indeed the ones reading this will acknowledge that indeed Allah only wants goodness to us. This is a true story and perhaps many youths are living in the same just Ali and this could change their life forever. Ali was so lost four years back surrounded by people who only wanted to enjoy their youth. People who did not forecast their lives 10-20 years to come. As he was surrounded by these people, definitely he would be like them, reason like them and act like them.
He had so many bad intentions to act upon immediately upon completing his high school education since he thought he was missing a lot and he was not that free. He used to enjoy but he felt he wanted more. He wanted to go clubbing every weekend, date every girl and doing all the illicit acts just to enjoy his youth. But that wasn’t the case when he completed his high school education. People might say that he was lucky he or he was blessed. But what changed his life was seeing two of his close people who he was going to club with, having double dates and hooking up with girls, both changing the direction of their lives. They were fed up with that life, the life of going to parties every weekend and dating girls.
Ali was really surprised to witness such an incident. I mean the same people who were enjoying their youth have really changed and did not want to go back again. The same people faced challenges because it was so tempting to go back, their friends are calling them to join them, when they heard that they changed, they thought it was a white lie. They offered them drinks and free dinner tempting them to go back to clubbing but they were firm. They said that they are fed up with that life and wanted to have a pure life of worship and surround themselves with good people. This incident made Ali to follow their path. He got two role models that changed and really did not go back again ever since and its four years now. But it was hard for Ali to change drastically because he had a girlfriend whom he really loved. And he got many signs from Allah about leaving the haram relations he used to have with the girl he loved. It was really hard for him because they shared so many memories together.
Ali didn’t know how to tell his girlfriend that he didn’t want to go on with that relationship. He thought that he would hurt her. But surprisingly, the girl told him to end the relationship and she didn’t gave him a reason. This really disturbed him because he was really in love and he didn’t want to accept it. Hence he went to one of his role models and told him everything. His role model told him that this was sign from Allah. Allah saw the change from him and He saved him from going on with the haram relationship since something bad could have happened which Allah knows best.
The boy accepted and went on with his life. What made him consistent in being productive and following the right path was the good people he associated with and the activities they did in uplifting their Iman. There is a misconception that the ones who are firm on their religion and are practicing Muslims are always boring people. They do not enjoy. Well they are very wrong. Ali narrated to me that since he befriended the good people, he really enjoys their company and sometimes they go to play football, they hang out with his fellow friends, go for dinner and there is so much fun being with that company of good people.
I asked Ali permission to write his story on my blog that perhaps it could change many youth who are living the same life the way he was four years back. The youth want to enjoy their youth with an intention to change when they get married or when they are old. But the question is, who granted them that life? Do they have a guarantee that they will live that life and be able to change when they marry? Do they not think that Death awaits them and when the times comes, not a second will be granted to them to repent? Haven’t the youth observed their surrounding and witnessed the number of their fellow youth who died terrible deaths? Some youth died while they were singing while others died while doing Zina (fornication). Do they really wish to have such an ending? Isn’t it the right time to change?
Allah is waiting for you to change and he will be pleased if you repented. Allah will really forgive all of your sins and start a new chapter with you. Yes, You the one reading this blog! It is the right time. Turn to Allah before you return to Him. Pray five times a day and know that no one is perfect but the best is the one who quickly turns to Allah and repents whenever he commits a sin. And most importantly the more you learn about Allah the more you will love Him and you will get closer to Him. This is the right time, change and be a better person.
“Recite (O Muhammad) what has been revealed to you of the Book (the Qur’an), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat). Verily, As-Salat (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahsha’ (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) and Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed, etc.) and the remembering (praising, etc.) of (you by) Allah (in front of the angels) is greater indeed [than your remembering (praising, etc.) Allah in prayers, etc.]. And Allah knows what you do.”
Surah Ankabut verse 45.