[dropcap]W[/dropcap]ith the daily hustle and bustle of our lives, do we ever take a moment to ask ourselves, “How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” On the real though: how do we keep our minds on God while taking care of our everyday duties?
I wish I knew the correct way to do this but it is not something I have mastered yet. Fortunately, Khurram Murad has written a great book entitled In the Early Hours (a highly recommended read) in which he discusses the remembrance of God. He shares four points to help us remember God.
Say to Yourself:
1. “I am in Allah’s presence; He is watching me.”
“He is with you wherever you are” (58:7) and “He is nearer to you than your jugular vein” (50:16).
The idea that God is always with us is profound. It is crazy to think how different I would act if I were able to keep that in mind. We are human and we will make mistakes. God knows that.
But we can put ourselves in a position to minimize mistakes if we realize God is with us. Or better yet, this idea should help us do good deeds to please the One who is constantly with us.
2. “Everything I have has been given to me by Allah.”
Any material good or wealth in our possession is a blessing that has been bestowed upon us. Besides material objects we possess, we should appreciate our emotions or the free will bestowed upon us. This includes athletic skill or academic prowess.
One way to ingrain this idea is to read from selected supplications. Their theme is that of gratefulness. Also, this point will help us avoid arrogance. By recognizing everything we possess is due to God’s blessing upon us, we will be grateful to Him.
3. “Nothing in this world can happen without His permission.”
“If God should touch you with misfortune, none can remove it but He; and if He should touch you with good fortune, He has power over all things. He alone holds sway over His creatures; He is the All-Wise, the All-Aware” (6:17-18).
This verse brings me a sense of relief. I am the type to stress about things, whether it be tests or competitions and so on. This verse calms me down by reminding me that God is the holder of all affairs.
It is all in His hands. I need not worry about the outcome of something because whatever God wants it to be, it shall. No one can prevent me from the good or bad He bestows; it is His decision alone.
4. “I am going to return to Allah one day and that day could be today.”
A critical take away from this point is that we should live each day as our last. There is no waiting for later to improve or become that person you want to be.
Another reflection on this has to do with JaMarcus Russell, a former NFL quarterback who is trying to make a comeback. One thing he said about his Uncle’s passing hit me: “One second I could pick up the phone and call him, and another…”
Death can come when we expect it, or it can come abruptly and suddenly. We need to cherish every second, and try to use our time wisely.
I hope these points can help us use our time to remember God in all of our activities. Take care and stay classy.
Featured photo: “Muslim prayer beads,” © 2009 Muhammad Rehan, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en
Jazaka Allahu khairan! Great reminder.