Pleasant reminders are those that leave one with a warm feeling inside, a sly smile on the face and a sense of ease in knowing things happen for a reason and Alhamdulillah to that. I realized this more so at the recent ICNA (Islamic Circle of North America) Convention in Hartford Connecticut. What brings a smile to my face, a sense of ease and a warm feeling inside is the fact that Allah SWT is always watching and knows what is going through our hearts and minds.

I recall roaming the bazaar to get a breather from the intense sessions that were taking place. It was there that I stumbled upon a booth which I had seen information about online. After taking note that the jelabas and abayas were a bit too expensive for my pocket I ventured over to the books. What stood out, as if in a cartoon, with an arrow pointing towards it, as if telling me to ‘READ ME!’ or ‘BUY ME!’ was a book containing prayers for forgiveness. I reached over to browse through it and before I could decide on whether or not to make the purchase a brother came over and shared with me what I share with you all now.

This brother questioned if I had read the translation of Surah Al-Qasas, after replying that in the past I had but at the present could not remember the details, he stated the story of Musa (Alayhi Salaam) in the valley of Madyan. More importantly, he mentioned that if I am in need of any assistance in my life then to only rely on the aid of Allah SWT. It struck me as odd that he would come up and start a discussion on this topic. I looked down at the book whereupon he said that I should memorize ayah twenty four of that Surah part of which translates as, “O my Lord! Truly I am in desperate need of any good that Thou dost send me.” He reemphasized that I should go home, memorize this ayah and make dua with it during my salawaat.

I knew then that Allah SWT was with me, that out of the blue a reminder was being sent to me that solace comes with the remembrance of Allah SWT, that a smile comes with the reassurance that we are living at the Will of Allah SWT and that a sense of ease comes with knowing that Allah SWT does not burden one with more than he or she can bare. I have memorized this dua along with countless others. SubhanAllah making sincere dua has truly impacted my life in ways I thought impossible so rather than think of things as coincidences we should accept them as pleasant reminders that Allah SWT is everywhere. InshaAllah.