March 4, 2025

In my tajwid class today, my teacher, who had just returned from Umrah (may Allah accept from her), shared a few reflections on the Sa’i. The Sa’i is the part of Umrah and Hajj where we walk back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwa, just as our mother Hajar (may Allah be pleased with her) did when searching for water and sustenance for her son. SubhanAllah, this ritual is not merely an act of remembrance; it is a reenactment of her unwavering trust in Allah, her perseverance despite the odds.

My teacher reminded us that when Hajar was running—moving back and forth in search of relief—that was her Sa’i, her striving. She was putting in the effort despite being in a seemingly hopeless situation. From an outsider’s perspective, with no visible signs of provision around her, one might expect her to give up. But she didn’t. She didn’t let her circumstances dictate her faith, and she continued moving.

My teacher then drew a connection between Hajar’s Sa’i and the many moments in the seerah when the odds were stacked against the Prophet ﷺ. And yet, time and time again, he remained hopeful. Islam teaches us to find hope even in the most difficult situations. Perhaps this is why Allah commands us to perform the Sa’i—so that it nurtures in us the same resilience, the same certainty in Him. Even at our lowest, we are meant to have the highest expectations of Allah, Al-Aziz, the Almighty.

She then referenced ayah 27 in surah Al-Fath, where Allah promises the Prophet ﷺ that he and his companions will enter Makkah and perform Umrah. At the time of this revelation, the Muslims had just faced what seemed like a setback. The Prophet ﷺ had seen a vision of performing Umrah and set off with his companions, but they were prevented by the Quraysh and forced to sign the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, delaying their Umrah until the following year. On the surface, it looked like a failure. But then Allah revealed, "Indeed, Allah has fulfilled His Messenger’s vision in truth..." as if it had already happened.

And then my teacher said something that struck me deeply: "The obstacle was a closer step to fulfilling the dream." SubhanAllah. What looked like a loss was, in reality, a step forward. This made me reflect on how often we assume that delays or setbacks mean we are moving further away from our goals—when, in truth, we may be getting closer.

She gave another example: the mother of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him). In an effort to save her son, she placed him in the Nile, only for him to end up in the very palace of Pharaoh—the same danger she was trying to protect him from. And yet, that was precisely Allah’s plan for his protection.

In our Sa’i, in our striving, our focus is not on the obstacles in front of us. Our focus is on the One we are striving towards.

We are not meant to calculate the odds and stop when things don’t align. Whether the circumstances are in our favor or not, we have Allah ﷻ. When it seems like we are missing a piece of the puzzle, when things aren’t falling into place, that is not a reason to stop making du’a or to stop trying. Through the command of Sa’i, Allah ﷻ is breaking us out of limiting beliefs—the mindset that tells us obstacles mean failure. Instead, He teaches us to see Him even in our lowest moments.

My teacher then shared the story of Prophet Zakariyya (peace be upon him) in Surah Maryam. When making du’a for a child, he acknowledged all the "impossible" factors: "My Lord, my bones have weakened, my hair has turned grey…” [19:4]

But he didn’t stop there. He continued: "…but I have never been disappointed in my supplication to You, my Lord." He saw the obstacles in front of him, but instead of losing hope, he used them to call upon Allah with even more conviction. And Allah answered him, granting him Yahya, despite every logical impossibility. This is why we must persist in du’a, not just when the path seems clear, but especially when it doesn’t.

In Surah Al-Isra, Allah connects Sa’i (striving) to Iman (faith): "But whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it accordingly, and is a believer, it is they whose striving will be appreciated." [17:19]. It’s not just about putting in effort—it’s about striving with belief. It is this belief in Allah that keeps us moving, even when doors close.

Allah assures us in Surah An-Najm, "And that each person will only have what they strove for. And that their striving will be seen. Then he will be fully rewarded." [An-Najm, 53:39-42].

As I reflected on my teacher’s words, I was reminded of three ayahs from Surah Ali ‘Imran (193-195). They begin with the believers calling upon Allah, saying:

"Our Lord, we have heard a caller calling to faith, so we believed." Then, the following verses list their struggles—their migration, persecution, and sacrifices. Yet, despite all these hardships, they say: "Our Lord, accept from us, forgive us, and reward us, for You never fail in Your promise."

And then comes the powerful response: فَٱسۡتَجَابَ لَهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ - "So their Lord answered them." The letter "fa" (فَ) in Arabic indicates an immediate response. Allah immediately reassures them that their striving was not in vain. That their obstacles were seen. That their dreams would be fulfilled.

As muslims, our utmost dream is to please Allah and hope to be rewarded for our striving. All the ayats prior started with Rabbana (Our Lord) and continued with du’as that the believers were making and then the response of Allah came, fastajaba lahum Rabbuhum (So their Lord answered them). SubhanAllah, the connection was so clear—what we see as obstacles, Allah sees as steps.

Ya Rabb, forgive us for the times we fail to run, for when we hesitate to put in the effort because we don’t see how things will align. Ya Allah, make me like Hajar, like Zakariyya—so that even when I only see obstacles, even when there is no visible way forward, as long as I see You ﷻ, I keep striving. Ya Mu’min, increase me in Iman so that it propels me in my Sa’i towards that which pleases You. Allahumma Amin.

With Love, Ibtisam