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…