Coincidence?

Salaam brothers and sisters,

Is it a coincidence that you ask your friends for the reference of a hadith and the few days later you attend a lecture explaining that hadith?

Or when you read about the conquest of Makkah and the accompanying verse that was revealed (49:13), at the exact time your computer plays the same surah containing that verse?

Or when you get approached by christian missionaries and you don’t know where to start about islam? So you go back home unsatisfied and clueless, only to find a facebook video link on the “Divine book” a few days later which explains the islam beautifully.

Or when you excitedly tell a few brothers that you attended a talk by Yusuf Estes recently? Only to find out that one of them personally reverted after he randomly met Yusuf Estes in a shop in London and asked about Islam (Unbeknown to him who Yusuf Estes was at that time).

Or when you have doubts playing in your head about the legitimacy of Sufism? Only to be given a free taxi ride to the mosque by a sufi brother and explaining what Sufism is all about a few days later.

Or when you buy a little book a few days earlier in Manchester; the Ma’thurat (a beautiful compilation of wirid (litany) of Qur’anic verses and hadith, along with it’s spiritual benefits). After reading it with fervour on the train back from Manchester, you meet Dr Tariq Ramadan, the writer of the foreword of the book and grand son of the deceased compiler of the litany on the London tube the very next day. wAllahiOr when you are asked to write about Shaytan? You casually read the Qur’an and you just happen to come across the very verses explaining the origin of Shaytan.(7:11-22)

Or when you rejected and invitation from a friend, after feeling guilty you hope to meet him. The following afternoon, you stumbled upon him, unplanned.Or when you tell a friend that you wish to learn Arabic? The next day you randomly pick a mosque for fajr prayer. Only to meet your long lost Egyptian ustadh that you once learnt Arabic from 9 years ago.

Allahu akbar. Too many to be considered coincidences. And they say God does not exist, astaghfirullah. Each and every one I thank Allah and will always remember.

Predestination is a curious thing. How Allah readily puts everything into place at the precise space and time. Perfectly in balance. SubhanAllah.

“…you can see no fault in the creation of the Most gracious. Then look again, do you see any rifts?”( Al-Mulk 67:3)

Allah grants favours after favours to those who seek for it and trust Allah, in strange and unexpected ways. “And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts trust his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set measure for all things.”( At-Talaq 65:3)

All we have to do is just open our eyes, hearts and minds. Observe, pause and reflect on your life and on His creation. Read and ponder the Qur’an (careful not to interpret haphazardly) to realize the awe, grandeur and majesty of Allah and His favours He has granted us.

Then ask yourself. Allah tells us to do just that. 31 times in Surah Ar-Rahman, after realizing Allah’s bounties, ask yourself, “Which of Allah’s favours do you deny?”

Happy fasting,
Salaam