the water spill

I was in one of my design classes learning an Adobe program a few years ago when this one guy next to me (it’s a computer lab, so not much choice on where to sit) started asking me about religion. I mentioned that I didn’t understand how they considered God to be one when they divided him into three parts. He told me to look at the clock (as if this would be my epiphany) – the dial, the numbers, etc – they were all parts to one clock – and that’s how God is.

Well of course at this I raised my brow and said…

“A clock? You’re comparing God to a clock? This is just like the time when someone I know compared God to an egg or an ice cube. I wouldn’t even want to be compared to a clock, let alone an egg or an ice cube, and yet you’re ascribing it to the Most Perfecting Being? And why do you have to make all of these confusing analogies just to understand the state of your Lord? God is One – He has no son, no wife, and no partners.”

As the debate continued, I started seeing the chairs in the room sliding more towards our direction. Some tried working while listening, and others gave up entirely and tried to slide closer to better hear the discussion. Yet they were all silent – not once interrupting what was going on. This was quite interesting indeed – especially since more likely than not, I would have jumped into that kind of discussion had I been in their position.

 

The conversation soon turned to the state of this world – and I said that in Islam we’re taught that we shouldn’t be attached to what is in this world because we’re not living for this life; rather, we live for the Hereafter, which is better and ever-lasting. And then he asked me a pretty random question – “so you’re saying, if you were to lose all of the information on your laptop (a pretty big deal for graphic designers), or if some one were to steal it, you wouldn’t be affected by it?”

Hmm… interesting. I replied – “in regards to how different Muslims would react, that is between them and their Lord. In regards to how I would react – no, I would not be affected.” It had, after all, happened to me before.
Many design projects, a few years, and an accidental water spill later – my relationship with my Dell Latitude D610 seems to be coming to an (seemingly irreversible) end. Granted, some might say that it wasn’t the ideal computer for design (and they’d be right), but it did what I wanted it to do pretty well alhamdulillah.

 

The water spill came at a very interesting point – my friend had just IMed me and told me that she had a dream that we were at a wedding, and all the girls were sitting in a room and I was teaching her adhkaar. At that point, my screen became white, and colorful at the same time. I started supplicating while trying to blot the water off – but the damage had already been done.

 

Alhamdulillah for everything.

I went and made wudu, prayed two rak’at shukr and thanked Allah. I do not know the wisdom behind it now, but I know Allah subhanaHu wata’ala knows better than I do, and whatever He decrees for me, I am pleased with.

Indeed, I feel that this was a blessing to me – an opportunity to come closer to my Rabb. I asked Allah to strengthen me in patience, and to bring me closer to Him – and He sent me tests and hardships. Through His Wisdom, Allah has answered my du’as in this way. Yet look at the state this poor soul is in – sinning without even realizing it, spending more time concerned with this world than with Him…and yet He answers our du’as in such beautiful ways; Is my Lord not then, the Most Merciful of those who are merciful?

Does He not say:

Say: “O ‘Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [Az-Zumar; ayah 53]

and what is it then, that stops us from seeking His forgiveness?