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Can we steer our ship to its destination?

Sometimes we walk through life but we never reflect on the signs of Allah (S.W.T.). Ever since I was struggling with Islam, I was always confused about something, namely freedom. I wasn’t sure why all these laws in Islam were necessary and they seemed like they were not taking us anywhere.

I used to like watching the sea and I noticed that when you throw a piece of wood or leaf, it would float, while something very heavy would sink. I used [to] wonder, why we shouldn’t let go and be free like the leaf, wood and other light objects. I begged and prayed to Allah (S.W.T.) hard to let me see what was constantly confusing me. I said, "My Lord, it is not that I doubt your wisdom, but it is that I believe there is something that I am not seeing, please allow me to understand."

I was throwing pebbles at the time and I noticed that when a pebble went to the side of a leaf the water rippled and the leaf moved accordingly. When I threw the pebble in a different direction, the water rippled and the leaf again moved according to the movement of the water. It had no direction or choice in where to float! Something then sparked inside me and I felt this growth in understanding on something which had long confused me.

Then I noticed the ship from afar and noticed that it SAILED through the sea. It knew where it was going and did not travel according to the movement of the water but it was able to choose its direction and destination. The ship had a body, definition and a design required for it to SAIL.

I went home and took out the Qur’an and checked to see if Allah (S.W.T.) says anything about the ship. And then I saw the following verses:

"And among His Signs are the ships, smooth-running through the ocean, (tall) as mountains." (42:32).

"Seest thou not that the ships sail through the Ocean by the grace of Allah? - that He may show you of His Signs? Verily in this are Signs for all who constantly persevere and give thanks." (31:31)

The Ocean being a body of water represents life for all living things are made of water. The ships represent our Ummah under the structure of the Islamic State, designed in such a way to help us move. Sailing is not just moving, you have to know where you are going and how to adjust the sails. Also, the destination the ship is heading to is ONE, it can’t go to more than one place simultaneously.

Right now OUR ship is filled with excess cargo that is making the ship sink. We have racism, bigotry, oppression, tyrants etc. on board the ship, each of which is making the ship sink. We also have secularists who are looking at the WESTERNS floating and are tearing down the necessary sails and gears for the ship and so the ship is not only sinking but also has no direction.

Some on the ship want to jump off and float like the WEST. Some want to destroy the ship. So everyone floats and some demand they keep their heavy cargo or else! Some are looking at the people floating, saying something like, "You are going to hell, you wait and see."

Yet, some are fighting, on who should be the Sailor of the ship. Others are crying why the ship is not moving and why God is not sailing the ship. I can go on and on on the status of the ship. But, until the ship is returned to the perfect design of the Islamic body that Allah (S.W.T.) perfected it in, then and only then will the ship start to sail through the Ocean.

Do not grieve, point fingers, whine or try to destroy the ship further but instead find out what you can do to reduce its weight, by removing any unnecessary baggage from your stuff. Fix the sail, comfort those grieving, help those on board and maybe before long it we will feel the movement of a ship sailing through the Ocean once again.

May Allah (S.W.T.) guide us, and help us to understand His signs and make us active in the journey to bring the ship on the straight path of ISLAM. AMEEN!