The Way Forward – Part 1

I have a principle in life. “I will not allow what is not in my control to prevent me from doing what is in my control.” That is based on the reality that when we stand before Allahﷻ, we will not be asked, ‘What happened?’ But we will be asked, ‘What did you do?’ That means accepting that the only one in my control is myself. Nobody else. So, that is who I must focus on. Do what is in my control and not allow circumstances, media, people, or even my own feelings, to distract or discourage me from doing whatever I can to make a positive impact. Some of the most common doubts and thoughts that interfere with action are based around the question, ‘What difference can I, as an individual, make?’ Remember and remind others that all great change, all revolutions, all re-writing of history begins with one person. Allahﷻ sent one Nabi, one Rasool, not a committee or team, to create change in an entire nation. So, my first message today to myself and you is, to focus on ourselves. Do what you must and Allahﷻ will create the effect.

Today as we look at what is happening to Muslims worldwide, we seem to be without solutions. But Allahﷻ told us the solution to our problems:

مَنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُۥ حَيَوٰةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

Nahl 16: 97    Whoever does good, whether male or female, and is a believer, We will surely bless them with a good life, and We will certainly reward them according to the best of their deeds.

The formula is very simple and straightforward; it’s literally only two things. Faith and righteous deeds. If I, as an individual, return to Allahﷻ, then my dua can change my life, my circumstances, and with the Will of Allahﷻ, my world. I always remind myself of what the famous author, Loren Eiseley wrote about his learning about the power of one person to make an impact. I am paraphrasing as I see it happening in my mind. Eiseley was walking on the beach early one morning. The previous night there had been a huge storm, and the beach was littered with debris. In that were hundreds of starfish. As he walked, Eiseley saw someone in the distance, picking up something from the beach and throwing it into the waves. When he got close to the person, he saw that it was a boy throwing starfish into the sea. Eiseley asked him, ‘What are you doing?’ The boy replied, ‘Throwing the stars into the sea so that they don’t die. If they remain on the sand, they will dry and die.’ Eiseley swept his open palm at the uncountable starfish on the beach and asked, ‘Do you have any idea how many starfish are on this beach alone? Then think of the number of starfish that get thrown up on all the beaches in the world. You are one kid, on this beach. What difference can you make?”

The boy looked at Eiseley, then he looked at the starfish that he was holding, threw it far into the waves and said, ‘It made a difference to that one.’ It is a common copout that we use by globalizing a problem and then feeling helpless to solve it, which we feel justifies our inaction. Instead, when we are faced with a problem, if we ask, ‘What can I do about this?’ we will find a solution that we can implement. Take global hunger as an example. Either you can complain about it, or you can feed one person. Ditto with any problem which we see as ‘global’. There is always a solution if we localize it to ourselves and ask, ‘What can I do about this?’ Today when you go to a protest or sit-in or whatever, never forget that you are making a difference. You are not allowing what is not in your power i.e., change the situation in the ME, to prevent you from doing what is in your control i.e., to raise your voice against it. That is the game changer in life. Just do it.

In these times when there is so much grief, depression, fear, despair even, it is good to let our brothers and sisters in Palestine know that they are not alone.