4/5 cont. Living The Tenets
When I was growing up, I have encountered all sorts of people, and I have always had this habit of scanning and analyzing them within myself. The way they behaved, the way they reacted to different condition s have always intrigued me. What was a big deal for someone was so trivial to another. What was nerve wrecking to somebody was a walk in the park to another. Why?
Why is it that some people simply know exactly what to do in a certain situation while others just panic and freeze, or even worse; behave really inappropriately that nothing would get them out of the mess they get themselves into.
As time went by, I have learned that the way we are raised up, the environmental factors, the incidents we experience, etc…all shape us into who we are, all contribute to who we become, how we act and react…
But that is not what I am here to talk about, there are countless books and researches on this, and psychologists have been struggling for years to solve mysteries of the human mind and understand what’s behind this person’s pain or that child’s disorder.
Rather what interests me is the ability of Islam to cleanse the past in such a way that the revert or the returnee is able to use his or her pre-Islamic life’s experiences positively in the new life.
What I am trying to say is it really amazes me to see how truly the Muslim (The Practicing Muslim) forgets his unpleasant episodes and hardships, focus on the present, and celebrate the new person he has turned into.
If you ask me, I would tell you the reason for that is Allah’s promise that when He accepts repentance, He really does it without rubbing your nose in it and without reminding you over and over again how wrongly you have behaved like any human would do after you have just said you’re sorry.
{After We shall have removed whatever unworthy thoughts or feelings may have been [lingering] in their bosoms. Running waters will flow at their feet; and they will say: "All praise is due to God, who has guided us unto this ;…} The Noble Quran 7:43
On the contrary, every time you remember your sin, it gives you a chance to cry with relief when you are asking Allah for mercy and absolution. Somehow it empowers you to know that Allah is listening, He is accepting you and loving you each time you remember how unfair you were to Him and to yourself…And how you are using this as stepping stones to advance into a better life.
Once we stop doing the bad deed, we can remove it completely from our memory (After careful thought and true repentance of course) and this why it won’t linger around and keep beating us up and torturing us throughout the rest of our lives, creating disorders and psychological trauma. Instead, the new Muslims know who to turn to when they are lost or need help. They know how to fight the raids of blame and spells of culpability. They have Allah on their side…He promised!
{Excepted, however, shall be they that repent, and put themselves to rights, and make known the truth: and it is they whose repentance I shall accept-for I alone am the Acceptor of repentance, the Dispenser of Grace.} 2:160
I cherish the fact that Allah gives us numerous opportunities to start fresh. We keep getting chances to commence again.
It is just the opposite of what we are accustomed to in this mundane world; one major mistake will haunt us forever and destroy our prospect of a great future. A world where we have a baggage of burden holding us back, agonizing our minds, and preventing us from moving forward.
The main reason, in my opinion, is the fact that we often feel unworthy somehow of being forgiven. We feel that the acts we’ve done can never be undone, and that devastates us every time we think about it. On the other hand, as Muslims, we should feel that Allah (SWT) has endowed on us a valuable blessing that helps us overcome these fears and worries and thus move ahead.
It has happened to me, I was once misled too. Now I cannot feel more balanced and on course.
It would be safe to say that doing what is required Islamically will consequently improve your relationship with others.
Why? Because Islam is not practicing certain rituals that you do not fathom, it is something that you explore and experience inherently. You savor the benefits firsthand once you undertake them.
You will make more friends than enemies, you will taste tranquility rather than bitterness, and you will receive respect instead of resentment.
This is why you feel relieved after giving charity to the underprivileged, this is why you take pleasure in helping those who need it, this is why you feel at peace when you forgive the ones who harm you, and this is exactly why you rise when you do not dwell in the envy of people around you…
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