Destitution

(hijab flutter ~ Yasmin Mogahed)

“I have nothing except but my destitution
To plead for me with You.
And in my poverty I put forward that destitution as my plea.
I have no power save to knock at Your door,
And if I be turned away, at what door shall I knock?
Or on whom shall I call, crying his name,
If Your generosity is refused to Your destitute one?
Far be it from Your generosity to drive the disobedient one to despair!
Generosity is more freehanded than that.
In lowly wretchedness I have come to Your door,
Knowing that degradation there finds help.
In full abandon I put my trust in You,
Stretching out my hands to You, a pleading beggar.”
- Sh. Abdul Qadirhas

Surat Yusuf

Sheikh Muhammad an-Najdi said:

The brothers of Prophet Yusuf (as) wanted to kill him, but he didn’t die.

Then they wanted his memory to be erased from their lives, but Allah raised his station on earth.

Then he was sold in order to become a slave, but he became a Minister.

Then they wanted to erase his love from his father’s heart, but his father increased in his love and longing for his son.

So do not be upset when people plot against you, because the Will of God is over and above the will of man.

And when Yusuf (as) was in jail, he was the better one even by the testimony of those who shared the cell with him, as they said to him “indeed, we see you to be of those who do good.” But even though he was better than them, he remained in jail for longer. The first one was released and became a servant, the second one was executed. And yet when Yusuf (as) was released many years later, he became a Minister and was reunited with his family.

So if you ever feel that your dreams are delayed, and everyone else seems to be moving forward, just remember the example of Yusuf (as). Stay true to Allah and true to yourself and remember that “Allah does not cause to be lost the reward of those who do good.”