March 17, 2024

I was listening to Juz 8 of the Qur’an 30 for 30 series by Yaqeen Institute and Sheikh Omar Suleiman said -

“Being guided to I don’t know is one of the greatest forms of guidance. Guidance is not knowing all the answers. Guidance is knowing the One who knows all the answers.” ~ Sh. Omar Suleiman ( Juz 8, Qur’an 30 for 30 S5, Yaqeen Institute)

There is something freeing about letting go of control and wanting to know the reason behind why things are the way they are in your life. If there’s one thing I have come to learn about myself, it is that I don’t do well with uncertainty. And I think in His infinite Wisdom and Mercy, Allah continued to put me in many uncertain situations as if to say - O my beloved servant, out of My love for you and in My “wish to lighten your burdens” [4:28], I am placing you in this situation so you can let go of control, so you can breathe and to remind you that I am Al-Alim, Al-Khabir (All-Knowing, All-Aware).

There’s a level of comfort and clarity that comes with leaving things in the hands of Allah. And more importantly, there’s a sense of peace that comes with not knowing and accepting that you do not know because in that you bequeath control to the One Most Capable of all things and who rather would you surrender your affairs and your heart to if not the One with Divine Wisdom and Knowledge?

Often when I have tried to make sense of things or tried to know and understand the reason behind things that were out of my control, I’ve found myself more confused, anxious and in despair because my wanting to know only continued to lead me to more questions without answers. It was when I gave in and said Ya Allah, you know and I don’t know so grant me clarity and understanding if understanding is what I need and if not calm my heart and make me content with Your decree if not knowing is better for me. It was only then did my heart find ease.

I think as humans, we are wired to always seek answers and have explanations for everything but I think there’s beauty in allowing ourselves to leave certain things unknown. Knowing too much can sometimes be detrimental in a sense that instead of gaining clarity, you are left more confused, or with more questions and even worse could lead to disbelief (my Allah protect us). You see this in how with every messenger and prophet that Allah sent, those who disbelieved among their people continued to demand more explanations, more signs, more miracles as a condition for them to believe. And Allah says in the Qur’an that:

“Even if We had sent them the angels, made the dead speak to them, and assembled before their own eyes every sign ˹they demanded˺, they still would not have believed—unless Allah so willed. But most of them are ignorant ˹of this˺.” [Qur’an 6:111]

May Allah not make us among them. And may He make us among those who are content with His decree and content with not knowing. May Allah guide our hearts to be at ease, not because we know everything but because we are content with knowing Him, who knows all the answers. Allahumma Amin.

With Love, Ibtisam