A little knowledge can take you a long way. It changes perspectives, alters feelings, and the blessing of knowledge is greater than material possessions.

I recall a time during Ramadhan a couple years ago where I was walking with a brother late at night. This was during Caribana, so you can imagine the activity taking place. He suddenly began to breakdown and cry, to my confusion, I asked him “what is up?”; The brother, may Allah bless him with good in this world and the Hereafter replied with a sentence which stuck to since, he replied and said “Allah has facilitated my affairs and made it easy for me to worship Him, while people are out here living and wasting away their time”. This comment was mentioned after seeing the amount of youth, as well of people of all ages trying to have a “good time”.

Regarding the first point, the blessing of knowledge. Knowledge allows us to see the world through a different perspective, to put on a pair of glasses, and the parables are endless. Knowledge separates us from the ignorant, empowers us to know and do better and is a great benefit. We can think of many ways knowledge can benefit us, both for our dunya (worldly affairs) and our akhirah (Hereafter). My point here is that Allah gave the brother understanding in order for him to learn, develop and fear his Lord.

عن معاوية رضي الله تعالى عنه قال، قال رسول صلى الله عليه و سلم:
“مَنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ بِهِ خَيْرًا يُفَقِّهْهُ فِي الدِّينِ”
رواه البخاري و مسلم
Narrated by Mu’awiyah:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “If Allah wants good for somebody, He gives him understanding of deen (their Islam).

Reported by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim

Pertaining the second highlight, the comment from the brother: “Allah has facilitated my affairs and made it easy for me to worship Him, while people are out here living and wasting away their time”. The reason why this stuck with me is how accurate this statement is. Allah makes it easy for whom He wills. The fact that people drive for hours to come to Toronto every year to commit zina (fornication) during Caribana, while people are in the Masajid worshipping Allah, it is definitely something to be grateful for. Sometimes we forget that being able to sit down and defecate is a blessing, being able to feed ourselves is a blessing, and the biggest blessing of all, Islam. How grateful are we for our Islam? How often do we thank Allah for making us amongst those who believe in Him, His Angels, His books, His Messengers, the Day of Judgement in which He will have the last say, and His decree (both good and ‘bad’)?

Allah says in the Qur’an:

Surah An-Nahl, Verse 18:
وَإِن تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

And if you would count the graces of Allah, never could you be able to count them. Truly! Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

(English – Mohsin Khan)

With this I would like to remind myself first and then you to be grateful for the blessings of Allah. Use His many blessings for good and fear a day in which where you will be brought to account for every single word you uttered and every single action you did (i.e The Day of Judgement).

Allah says in the Qur’an:

Surah Luqman, Verse 33:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَاخْشَوْا يَوْمًا لَّا يَجْزِي وَالِدٌ عَن وَلَدِهِ وَلَا مَوْلُودٌ هُوَ جَازٍ عَن وَالِدِهِ شَيْئًا إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ

O mankind! Be afraid of your Lord (by keeping your duty to Him and avoiding all evil), and fear a Day (i.e Judgement Day) when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his father. Verily, the Promise of Allah is true, let not then this (worldly) present life deceive you, nor let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah.

(English – Mohsin Khan)

And,

Surah Luqman, Verse 34:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْأَرْحَامِ وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ بِأَيِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

Verily, Allah! With Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allah is All-Knower, All-Aware (of things).

(English – Mohsin Khan)

May Allah grant us understanding, steadfastness and gratitude,
اللهم آمين يارب العالمين