By Ahmed Zaafran

Certainty. It is what we seek as humans to offset the inconsistencies of our lives. Fortunately, when we experience anxiety due to the unknowns that occupy our minds and hearts, we have the necessary tool, the Qur’an, to navigate us in the direction of providence. Nearly 10 years ago, I began medical school in Grenada, the West Indies. I was not sure what I wanted to do with my life. I did not know what direction my life would go; whether I could complete my studies, whether I was ready for marriage, or whether my relationship with Allah, subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He), was something I was content with.

One of my favorite spots in Grenada was right outside the anatomy lab. The lab sits atop a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea, and I would stand there in awe, taking in the seemingly endless ocean as it met the horizon. The sea was characteristically still but its endless stretch into the horizon embodied the limitations of our senses. I could hear the waves beat the shore in a gentle, rhythmic drum.

Prophet Abraham’s (as) Encounter

Reflecting on Grenada’s ocean waves reminded me of a passage in the Qu’ran where the Prophet Abraham, alayhi as-salaam (peace upon him), is reflecting upon God’s (swt) signs, such as the sun, the moon, and the stars. For him, the celestial structures gave him peace in a world that couldn’t always be understood; one riddled with people who didn’t share his values, primarily monotheism:

“And thus did We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth that he would be among the certain. So when the night covered him [with darkness], he saw a star. He said, “This is my lord.” But when it set, he said, “I like not those that disappear.” And when he saw the moon rising, he said, “This is my lord.” But when it set, he said, “Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among the people gone astray.” And when he saw the sun rising, he said, “This is my lord; this is greater.” But when it set, he said, “O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allah. Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah.” And his people argued with him. He said, “Do you argue with me concerning Allah while He has guided me? And I fear not what you associate with Him [and will not be harmed] unless my Lord should will something. My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge; then will you not remember?” (Qur’an, 6:75-80)

Abraham (as) used God’s (swt) signs to navigate through the questions of his existence. He utilized the tools of the seen world as a portal into understanding the celestial realm and directed his questioning as a guide towards understanding the divine. God (swt) graced him with intuitive inquisitive thought; and He answered him in ways that he could understand. These signs exist for us well. They may be used as a spiritual compass so long as we realize that the path is ultimately to God (swt).

However, in a full reversal of perception, it didn’t take too long for those gentle waves to turn into ferocious towers of water. I didn’t expect what happened during that first year on the island.

Having Faith in Allah’s (swt) Signs

It was Autumn 2004. We were just beginning our medical studies, and we were completely engrossed in our work. Word came that a hurricane was brewing in the Caribbean Sea, but the likelihood of it hitting Grenada was slim to none. We did not pay much attention to the warning and went about our routine; studying followed by more studying. Later that evening, we were told that the next day’s classes would be canceled given the slight chance the hurricane would take a turn for Grenada. We took the rare opportunity to put down our books, hunker down in our dorms, and enjoy the night hanging out.

By early morning, we turned on the television and received a rude awakening. Ivan had changed course and his eye was heading for the center of Grenada.

Given the unexpected turn of events, my friend Taha and I drove over to a spot where we could grasp the power of what was happening. Waves were smashing into the coast ferociously, and the locals were busy protecting their windows with wooden panels. Feeling overwhelmed and knowing that we were in the midst of God’s (swt) power, we did what felt natural. We stayed right where we were, and we prayed.

Once the hurricane struck, we spent an entire night challenged by window-shattering wind, sheets of rainfall, and a home flooded to our knees with water. We all felt an ominous vulnerability that night. When would someone come to help us? Did we have enough food to last more than a week? Could we protect ourselves from imminent danger? It is when you are alone in an uncertain world that you realize only God (swt) is the Comforter. Praise God (swt), we worked together to endure the night and the few days following, and we established a community to help ourselves and local residents recover from the storm.

Seeing Faith in the Stars

One of the main unexpected blessings that took place following the hurricane was the lack of light pollution. The entire island lost its power in the aftermath of the hurricane. I remember going down to the beach situated near our dorms the night before our departure from the island. The sand was characteristically black and silky, a far cry from the sandy beaches I was accustomed to back home. My friends and I had started a campfire, and we took time to reflect upon the days and nights we had gone through since the hurricane. As I lay down on the sand, without the artificial bulbs veiling the heavens, I was able to visualize something entirely unique and wondrous.

The sky above was a back-lit canopy of red, white, purple, and blue. Stars were clustered into perfected formations; branches extending from the trunk of the universe pushing the boundaries of what I knew existed. Feeling entirely vulnerable and insignificant within God’s (swt) realm, I remembered an often-cited verse from Surat Noor in the Qur’an:

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things.  (Qur’an, 24:35)

I came to the realization that we are not so different than Abraham (as) in our quest. We all yearn for certainty, but that only comes to those who actively seek it. Muslims around the world are feeling uncertain and vulnerable, particularly at a time when the violent actions of others are heavily portrayed as the norm. But we don’t have to despair. We should look to God (swt) and His signs as our bearing point. We must continue on our journey, leading with good character and positive energy. We must be honest with our weaknesses and ourselves both individually and collectively. Only then can we improve.

Savoring that last night on the island, enamored by the stillness of the ocean, and the universe glistening above, l laid on the beach, and I closed my eyes. When I opened them, I felt some certainty in an uncertain world.

Abu Darda radiAllahu `anhu (may Allah be pleased with him) was one of the righteous companions of the Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him). Once, a man came running to him saying, “O Abu Darda, your house has burned down!” He said: “No, it cannot be burned!” The man insisted that a fire had engulfed the whole neighborhood and his house was of the ones that had burned down. Abu Darda (ra) responded, with full certainty, “Allah will never allow this to happen because of the words that I heard from the Prophet ﷺ. Whoever says these words in the beginning of a day, the Prophet ﷺ told us, will not be afflicted by a misfortune until the end of the day, and whoever says these words in the evening will not be afflicted until morning.” He told him the words that he had recited that day as he had learned from the Prophet ﷺ, and when they both went to inspect the neighborhood, it turned out that most of the other houses had burned down, except the house of Abu Darda (ra). [Ibn As-Sinny, Tabarani]

This is a remarkable story. It is not simply remarkable because his house did not burn down – for Allah subhanahu wa ta`la (swt) is capable of all things. It is remarkable because Abu Darda (ra) was so sure of the words of the Prophet ﷺ, that even someone telling him that he saw the whole neighborhood burn down did not shake his faith. It is similar to the faith of Abu Bakr (ra), who said “If he [the Prophet ﷺ] has said it, then it is true.”

Truly yaqeen (certainty) is the soul of faith.

This is the final article in the section on things to know, and thus we have to conclude with this topic – the topic of certainty. That is because simply knowing we have to think well of Allah, or have trust, won’t truly help us when we need it if we are not sure. Being sure (having yaqeen) means certainty in the Strength of Allah, in His Mercy, in His promise, and in everything that we talked about in the past seven articles. It is certainty that He can make us better, save us and help us. We need to ask ourselves – how firm is that certainty?

We discussed how shaytan makes us doubt – that is the best he can do. And that is precisely what we must fight, because the first description of those who have taqwa (God-consciousness) in the Qur’an is:

“Who believe in the unseen…” (Qur’an, 2:3)

Our faith should be as strong as if we can see. If you visited a certain place and saw it with your own eyes, chances are no matter what, no one can tell you it doesn’t exist, especially if you have souvenirs. The Qur’an and the sayings of the Prophet ﷺ should be as true to us as though we have visited a place – it should be that real. Many of us have experienced the bounty of Allah (swt) – these are our souvenirs. So when things go wrong in our life, we need to be able to go back to that place and hold onto those souvenirs as our anchors – and for that certainty, the reward is immeasurable.

Does that mean nothing bad will ever happen? Of course not. But you will able to see beyond the immediate. Your certainty in Allah (swt) means you know; when bad things befall you, you will reflect on why tests happen and try to learn from the experience. When things turn out well, you know to fall into prostration because that result could not have occurred except by the will and grace of Allah (swt).

There is a beautiful du`a’ (supplication) in this regard. The Prophet ﷺ used to supplicate:

“O Allah! Grant us such fear of You as will come between us and acts of disobedience to You; such obedience to You as will bring us to Your Garden; and such certainty that the calamities of this world will be made easy for us by You. “¹ [Tirmidhi]

Calamities without doubt test our faith, and this is why the Prophet ﷺ taught us to pray for certainty – so that these calamities are made easier.

Be like the companions. Their faith never wavered because they were certain in Allah’s Words in the Qur’an, and they were certain in what the Prophet ﷺ taught them. They never stopped asking Allah, because they knew it is only Allah that responds to the du`a’ of the distressed.² They never stopped seeking forgiveness, even when they felt their sins were like mountains, because they knew that Allah’s Hands are open to accept the repentant sinner, over and over again.³ They knew to work hard even if they never saw the fruits of their labor, because they knew that every drop of sweat was recorded with Allah and would never ever go to waste.⁴ They didn’t let other people’s rudeness get to them, because if they were patient and said words of peace, they were of the people that Allah praised in the Qur’an.⁵ They fled from Allah, only to Him.

Be like the companions. Have faith.

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Insha’Allah next week we will begin with the things we have to do in our journey to achieve tranquility of the heart.