A great article and a great reminder:

The Most Harmful Thing
by Shaheen Ahmad

“These days I have been listening to a series of lectures based on the topic of how to become an excellent teacher of Quran. Surprisingly I have learned things which I had not even expected. For example, the concept that external problems or hurdles are not the real obstacle in the way of success Rather it is our sins which have the most damaging effect on our lives. This reminded me of the countless times I have told others that I could not do such and such thing or could not complete the target I had in mind because of this problem or that hurdle sometimes blaming people, other times crying over health problems always a string of excuses which are nothing more than that excuses! Because If I had truly wanted to do something and sincerely asked Allah, then why would he not let me do things which I want to do only for his sake? Surely there must be something wrong inside my own self?

I remember a few years ago I had gone to visit my parents. The next morning there was no water in the taps very strange!!! Because the night before they had got the water tank refilled so where did those gallons of water disappear? Plumbers were called and they began digging to find the leakage the whole house was in an uproar, with people coming in and out nothing else could be done because everything depends on water. Finally the broken pipe was discovered and repaired, the tank was filled again and life restored back to normal.

But when the same story happens with our tank of faith and knowledge; it never becomes an issue of concern. We fill our hearts and minds with the knowledge of Quran and Hadith but the next day when we face any situation and open the tap, nothing comes out no patience, no gratitude, no kindness with others where did all the knowledge go? Nobody is worried no one tries to find the leakage of the heart.

But we must realize that just as life stops if there is no water, similarly the soul dies if there is no faith our very survival depends on it so if the knowledge is not coming out in deeds then it means that there is some serious leakage problem. For me it remained a mystery for many years but Alhamdulillah I just found out that every sin for which we do not feel guilty nor do tawbah nor correct it then it creates a crack in our heart from where faith keeps dripping out and we don’t even realize it. So whenever we feel lack of motivation, lack of energy, then immediately we should pray to Allah to show us where we went wrong and then honestly and sincerely ask Allah for forgiveness. So as to mend the crack and ensure that our tank of faith remains full.

May Allah protect us from our self conceit and give us insight with which we might realize our mistakes and correct our ways. Because no one else can do it for us. Each one of us has to be responsible for his own life.

Wassalam,

Shaheen Ahmad
Al Huda Institute, Canada