We Create Our Own Barriers for Progress

Yesterday during our Street Dakwah we had a lovely conversation with 50-year old uncle Peter (not real name) from Cheras.

After quite a lengthy but very pleasant discussion, he eventually came to the point where he agreed that Islam is a beautiful religion and way of life, and he agrees to its teachings.

So we bit the bullet, took a leap and asked, “Uncle, we are so happy that you have such a positive view and agreement with islam. So what’s stopping you now from becoming Muslim? We really want you to join our family!”

He was surprised at the question, but maintained a calm and friendly face. Then he replied, “you see, Islam is a beautiful religion - if you want to follow, you must follow it properly. I don’t like it when people don’t do things seriously. But you see, I’m already 50 years old, no more a young man, I cannot learn so much stuff anymore, I don’t have enough knowledge or energy to do all those things as Muslim. And I cannot be a good Muslim if I don’t do it properly.”

It’s an honest answer, and we were glad to clarify to him - that God will not punish a person beyond what he can bear. As long as we try our honest and sincere best effort, even if it means only implementing a small fraction of what we know, then God is all-Merciful and all-Understanding, and He will Forgive us.

God tells us in the Qur’an never to despair at His Mercy!

We even narrated the story based on the hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari, that a person who murdered 99 men, who sought sincere repentance and was instructed to go to another town. But on the way to the town – without arriving there, without even performing the actual repentance – he died. Yet God forgave his sins, on account of his sincerity and effort.

We told him that, as soon as He testified that only God (Allah) Alone is worthy of worship and that Muhammad is His messenger, immediately all his past sins were erased, and that he would be better than us in the sight of God.

He liked the message and he took it positively, but eventually he said he still could not do it, because he is worried for his family. He never speaks about religion to his wife or child, and he is worried that they would get upset, too difficult, etc.

He mentioned other things and politely turned down, but did not negate the possibility that he would join us in the future, and in fact is quite keen to meet us again.

We pray that may Allah grant Blessings to all our efforts and open his heart to the Light of Guidance.. ameen.

One profound lesson we learnt from this, which really applies to myself too, is this: We create our own barriers for progress.

Many a times, it’s not a matter of whether or not we recognize the truth : it’s just that we create excuses, reason our ways out, procrastinate, deliberately divert our attention away, or make up mental barriers to prevent ourselves from progress forward – especially when it comes to repentance and turning to God.

Yes, Muslim brother and sister, that includes me and you that always claim we are ‘not ready’ for (insert change here).

We need to have the mental strength to put aside our desires, bury our pride, and realize that our time in this world is short, and we only have one shot to make it to Paradise. Let’s not waste it.

In the same way we want Uncle to remove his barriers, let’s also play our part to remove ours : before our time runs out.

May Allah Guide us and keep us firm on the Straight Path. Ameen.

إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ ۗ

“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they (first) change what is in themselves.” (Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:11)

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۖ فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ ﴿١٨٥﴾

"Every soul will taste death,

and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection.

So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained true success.

And the life of this world is nothing except the delusion of enjoyment."

(Surah Al-Imran 3:185)