At some point in our lives, we are all given moments where we have to take a stand; a mawqif. It’s usually a test which is personal to each of us. But on a larger scale, it’s also an opportunity from Allah allowing us to earn His Pleasure, attain higher ranks and pretty much ‘prove’ ourselves to Him.
Sometimes, we’re forced to make hard decisions. We’re forced to forsake what we love, or want, or is easier to do, in order to uphold a greater principle. We have to fight against our heart and soul in order to do what is right at that moment of time as opposed to what simply pleases us.
Sometimes, our actions directly affect others because in pleasing Allah we might end up displeasing people, but what choice does the believing man or woman have? We don’t live for the sake of our own nafs (soul); rather we live for Allah and higher principles, and when it comes to these testing moments in life, we must choose what is right, even if it means that we will lose what is very dear to our hearts or lose our freedoms.
These are the mawaqif in our lives, and every single person has to face them at some point. But it’s a Promise from Allah that once we take the right stand, He will take it upon Himself to lead the way and rectify our affairs. Even if we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, we must trust that the end result will be for the believer who chose his Lord over himself…
Jazakillahu khairan.
What advice can be given to one who faces such a situation but does not ‘take a stand’.
Wa iyyaki, Bint Abbas.
I don’t know if I can offer the best advice as it really depends on the individual and what the ‘stand’ that he/she was meant to take, actually is.
Sometimes it’s a stand which is mandatory/obligatory from a Shari’ah point of view, other times it’s not obligatory but it would make all the difference (worldly and Akhirah-wise) in standing for the right.
I personally think throughout life we’re faced with various challenges such as this, and if a person doesn’t take a stand at one particular time, it should drive him/her to seek forgiveness, ask Allah for help, and strive to take the stand in life’s next challenge which for sure will come in one form or another.
It’s a lifelong tarbiyyah! 🙂
Assallamualaikum sister, I often face this situation and almost give up but whenever we choose Allah is the only reason to take stand, to fight the evil in our heart , Allah will bless peace and content in our heart, Alhamdullillah. Here for me, our iman ( faith ) has rule important for us because ‘iman’ is the most precious asset for our live without it, we’ll get lost. It ‘s happening to a lot of people recently…Naudzubillah 🙁
Wa `alaykumusalam Hanifa,
May Allah grant you and us all strength and success in this matter, ameen. I couldn’t agree more… Iman is the believer’s most prized possession, which he/she should hold onto with their dear life, but yet it’s also a gift and a blessing which means it can be taken away so we really shouldn’t take our Islam for granted.
..quoted by imam ash-shaheed anwar al awlaqi rahimullah – abu bakr series part 1 🙂
barakAllahu feeki