“How can the same tongue that recites Qur’an backbite or utter a word of anger toward a fellow believer? How can the same hands that surrender to Allah in prayer be used to touch or do what is forbidden? How can the same feet that are cleansed in the water of wudhoo’ walk with intent toward carnal sin?”
…Because the tongue, hands, and feet belong to a child of Adam—a human being—just like you. And just as your highest hope for salvation rests in earning the mercy and forgiveness you’ll never deserve, so it is with them—even as their tongue, hands, and feet sin differently than yours.’
We often caution each other to avoid discord, lest we fall victim to the traps of Shaytaan. But we must remember that, at times, Shaytaan is behind much of what we call love and harmony.
In today’s world, it’s become quite commonplace to support wrongdoing in the name of kindness, patience, and tolerance. But, as believers, our ultimate goal is not to avoid discord and hurting people’s feelings.
It’s to avoid discord *with Allah* and hurting our souls.’
Islam is not a philosophy and thus cannot be mastered through classes and books. It is not a scientific discipline in which you can become a “specialist” due to rigorous study. And it is not an academic subject in which a teacher can declare that you passed or failed.
Islam is life. And you can’t get a degree or a certificate in “life.”
Yes, you can study *about* life. But in the end, you still have to live it.
And you can only pray to God—in fear and hope—that you’re getting it right.’
—from the journal of Umm Zakiyyah
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