With all the craziness that is happening in the world these days, one may think that there is no more humanity left on earth and just when you may be losing hope in people in this world, God Almighty sheds His light by sending His angelic people for help. God reminds us again and again that He is in charge and that all trust and faith belong only to Him and Him alone.

One of my favorite scholars, Shaikh Hamza Yusuf once said that “All relationships are designed to disappoint you in this world except for your relationship with Allah”. So I feel like telling everyone in this world that we cannot lose hope and faith because God is everywhere and He has a plan that is beyond our scope of understanding. If we tried with our limited brain capacity to comprehend His will, we would never be able to understand His magnanimity. Our minds are not programmed to fully understand and are not exposed to His “veiled unseen worlds.” But, we are promised to be privy to His plan in the next life as long as we obey and fulfill His command by trying to be human and worship Him in the way that our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon Him) taught us how to worship.

In the Quran God reveals Surah Al Dhariyaat: (51:v56)

“And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).” Here this ‘worship’ not only is talking about the 5 pillars that Muslims are required to do which are listed below but also the other ways we can worship Him:

1. Declaration of belief in one God and believing in all of the Prophets an acknowledging that Muhammad is the last messenger.
2. Prayer– the five obligatory prayers
3. Fasting-Fasting in Ramadan
4. Zakat-Paying our due to the needy 2.5% of our yearly savings from out income.
5. Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca atleast once in your lifetime if you can afford and have health.

Although, many Muslims feel that worshipping God is just sitting at home and praying on the prayer mat and just leaving it at that. In reality, worshipping God is much more than that. I believe that worshipping God is trusting in Him while we supplicate Him and only Him and then making the intention to stay away from all wrong actions that would disappoint God and only intending to do that which would benefit our family, humanity, the planet, the needy and speaking up for justice against the oppressors of the world. Only then can we really say that we are worshipping our Lord. This is actually a selfless act which not only helps others but sends us direct blessings in this world and in the Hereafter.

I would like to remind myself firstly and all my fellow brothers and sisters around the world, lets please make time to do things beyond our normal routines and touch the lives of those that need help! Lets be selfless here in this world and be selfish in attaining God’s pleasure and nearness to Him.

When disappointed with the heedlessness and cruel behavior of unjust people, our Prophet (PBUH), before receiving Divine revelations from God would often go in seclusion to ponder upon the meaning of life and to reflect and meditate to come closer to his Lord. Today, I am reminded of those early days of ignorance before Islam came  and I feel the need to seclude myself for short periods of time and reflect, what is really the meaning of life?  Maybe my reflection will bring about change that is beyond my imagination….If Muhammad (PBUH) can do it, so can we! Are we united?….the choice is ours!