In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
كُنتُم خَيرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخرِجَت لِلنّاسِ تَأمُرونَ بِالمَعروفِ وَتَنهَونَ عَنِ المُنكَرِ وَتُؤمِنونَ بِاللَّهِ ۗ وَلَو ءامَنَ أَهلُ الكِتٰبِ لَكانَ خَيرًا لَهُم ۚ مِنهُمُ المُؤمِنونَ وَأَكثَرُهُمُ الفٰسِقونَ ١١٠
You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient. [Qur’an 3:110]
That you are here means you are where you are meant to be. Do not take it for granted.
I have been ill the past few days and when you have space, as you hang out in waiting rooms and wait for test results, you have so many thoughts and I am reflective. I start to think of how to better use my days and time because time is all we have. It brings to mind the hadith…
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death.”
Source: Shu’ab al-Imān lil-Bayhaqī 10250
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani
Cells of the body come together to make tissues which make up organs which make up systems which make up the body. But one problematic cell can cause a very big issue for the body. That is how so many diseases start. SubhanAllah.
You are an example, which makes you a role model - you have a role to play as a model for the society. Stop underestimating that. It is a huge deal we need to be grateful to Allah ﷻ for and repent more often than we already do.
What are you modeling to your children, your nephews, nieces, neighbours, parents, the person you passed by on the street, the waiter, the cashier at the supermarket?
We can be so focused on trying to correct others but we sometimes do it wrong and end up even upsetting the person and these days, social media gives people "access", and the 'correction' comes as a comment or in the DMs. Modeling behavior can be a great way to enjoin good and forbid evil. We are all role models after all. How do we enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong? By calling people out publicly?
While we might not be fighting physical battles like the Battle of Uhud, we are all fighting personal battles.
And I leave you with one question? What kind of role model are you?
May Allah ﷻ make us true ambassadors of Islam
If you would like to follow through with reflecting on one ayah daily, then go ahead and get your copy of Fajr Thoughts here. It contains a summary of each juz, an ayah from each juz, some notes from tafasir and then some questions to get you started on your reflections.