Our responsibility

It was said there was a story, in a village, where the people wanted to have a big feast to celebrate a function. So, they had an agreement that everyone would donate a spoon of their honey to a big container so that they could cook out a dish for everyone for the feast out of the honey. They all agreed that they would do this at night (donating the honey). Apparently a villager planned not to donate her part of honey thinking that it would not matter much if she donated or not, knowing that other people would do it. Well, it happened that everyone was thinking of the same thing. Therefore when it comes to the day of the feast, there was no honey in the container because everyone was too selfish to do their part. Hm... get the message?? Think!


A similar scenario: You heard somebody badtalked another friend. And you know it's wrong and sinful what she was doing. And you do know it's your duty as a Muslim to advise her against it. So...the question lies...what are you going to do? Some people, in fact most people chose to walk away from the situation thinking there will be other people who would take the responsibility. This is absolutely wrong! And if everyone thinks the same way, everybody walks away, nothing changes! Look how backward we are!! Think!


Failing to realise own strength, that is our problem. Choosing to believe we are uncapable of succeeding something. Keep our thoughts to ourselves, fearing misconception. Keep those habits away, we should! Everyone is capable of contributing something because Allah created us diversely. We have different capabilities, strengths. No one is identical. Every contribution counts because we are able to help in various ways. That is the way to see it, widen the scope of perception, thou must! Think!


We might want to ponder on how Nabi SAW spreaded the faith of Islam to the whole world? Recalling how he started to dakwah to the people of Mekkah, who were mostly Jahiliyyah. And after painful ordeals, succeeded in establishing the first Islamic city, Madinah? How could a man, initially illiterate, and simple could accomplish this? Could WE? What contributed to Nabi SAW 's triumph? Think!


In Surah Maryam, verse 23, 24,25, 26:

And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!"

But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee;

"And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.

"So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into not talk with any human being'"

This was when Maryam had just conceived Isa and after conceiving, feeling restless and drained out. She brought herself and the baby to a tree which bears ripe dates on it. Just then, Allah ordered Maryam to shake the trunk of the tree so that the dates would fall for her to eat them.
What is the message here, you would ask? How could a woman, just conceived, tired, exhausted and restless shake a strong still trunk to obtain the dates on the tree? Logically, that is impossible. What i am trying to say here is, it is the effort that counts. Maryam may know that even if she shakes the tree it was to no avail, but she did it anyway. This shows that, yes, we humans are weak, and defenseless but the will to do it is what counts. Whether we achieved or not what we want, that is for Allah to decide, for we believe that our fate is all in His hands. So, put in your effort in everything you do, because yes, it counts. And Allah knows that.


Say you obtained unsatisfactory grades in your exam, don't be upset. As long as you know that you had done your best and gave all your will to Allah, there is absolutely nothing to be sad about. We are humans and yes, failure is a part of our lives. There may be a ibrah (message) behind every disappoinment. That is the tarbiyyah Allah wants us to ponder about. Think!