LESSONS FROM SURAH KAHF - PRODUCTIVE MUSLIM

PRODUCTIVE MUSLIM LESSONS FROM SURAH KAHF

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Whoever recited Surah al Kahf in the same manner in which it was revealed, it will serve for him as a light on the Day of Judgement, from his domicile to Makkah. And whoever recited the last ten verses, and it happens that the Dajjal should appear after that, Dajjal will not be empowered over him’. [Hakim 1/564 & Dhahabi]

Abu’d-Darda’ reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Anyone who memorises ten ayats from the beginning of Surat al-Kahf (18) will be protected from the Dajjal.” [Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi 183 #1012] One variant has, “from the end of Surat al-Kahf.”

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Whoever recited Surah al Kahf on a Friday, Allah will kindle for him abundant light to brightly illuminate the period between the two Fridays (the Friday on which the recitation was made and the next Friday)’ [Hakim 2/367, Mishkat al-Masabih #2175, however Baihaqi disagreed with it’s authenticity in Sahih Al Jami 2/1104]

Narrated Al-Bara’bin Azib: A man was reciting Surah Al-Kahf and his horse was tied with two ropes beside him. A cloud came down and spread over that man, and it kept on coming closer and closer to him till his horse started jumping (as if afraid of something). When it was morning, the man came to the Prophet, and told him of that experience. The Prophet said, “That was As-Sakina (tranquility) which descended because of (the recitation of) the Qur’an.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #531, at-Tirmidhi 2810/A]

This surah explains Fitnah in different aspects of life.

1. Fitnah of Religion (Story of the People of the Cave)
2. Fitnah of Wealth (Story of the Man with Two Gardens)
3. Fitnah of Knowledge (Story of Musa and Khidr)
4. Fitnah of Power (Dhul Qarnain)

Each of these stories outline how each of these 4 things can bring us fitnah. It also outlines how the believer should approach these trials and tribulations.

FITNAH OF RELIGION: THE WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS IS MENTIONED IN AN AYAAH AFTER THE STORY:

“And keep yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His Face, and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our Remembrance, one who follows his own lusts and whose affair (deeds) has been lost.” (Surah Kahf: 28)

So if you are faced with fitnah because of your religion, the solution is to be patient and to be in the company of the righteous. This will give you strength to persevere.

FITNAH OF WEALTH: THE WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS IS MENTIONED HERE:

“Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds that last, are better with your Lord for rewards and better in respect of hope.” (Surah Kahf: 46)

So the way to deal with this fitnah is to realize the reality of this wordly life. It is temporary, while the hereafter is everlasting.

FITNAH OF KNOWLEDGE:

Musa A.S. thought he was the most knowledgeable person on the earth and so Allah revealed to him that there is someone who knows more. After traveling with this man (Khidr), He could not be patient of the things he would do, and did not see the wisdom. The way to deal with this fitnah is to remain humble and not to let your knowledge delude you.

“If Allah will, you will find me patient, and I will not disobey you in aught.” (Surah Kahf: 64)

FITNAH OF POWER:

Dhul Qarnayn was given a vast kingdom stretching from the east to the west. But yet he was still sincere to Allah and did not let this power delude him, and he helped the people of the city which were fearful of Ya’juj and ma’juj. So the way to deal with the Fitnah of power is to have sincerity in your deeds to Allah, as it was mentioned in this ayaah:

“Say: ‘Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds!’” (Surah Kahf: 103-14)

ENDING OF THE SURAH:

This Surah ends with the most perfect way to deal with all types of fitnah, and that is to remember the hereafter.

“So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.” (Surah Kahf: 110)

Something to definitely reflect when we read it every Friday. As well, it is mentioned that one of the wisdoms behind reading this surah on jumu’ah is because we are asked to leave the fitnah of this worldly life and join the congregation. How appropriate!

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Well, let’s recap the events together, shall we? A number of young men are guided to believe in the One and Only Lord and because they lived in a city of disbelievers they decide to escape to the cave, fearing execution after calling people to monotheism. Allah  makes the boys fall asleep for 309 years (300 solar and 9 lunar years), and then they wake up to a new society filled with faith. It’s a miracle and it’s amazing but hey, as far as the story goes, that is it! We learn so many lessons from it but ‘productivity’ isn’t one of them, since the boys were actually sleeping! Isn’t that what some people would think?

Actually, there is more to this story than that, and that’s what we’ll explore in this article.

Lesson One: Productivity Is Using Your Time Wisely

Roughly explained, productivity is the ability to efficiently yield positive and useful results in an allotted amount of time. We tend to relate this aptitude to grown-ups. We don’t really expect the younger generation to naturally be productive, unless we actually pin them down to the floor and make them do something useful with their time. We have this connotation in our heads that teenagers are up to no good. That’s the age where they go wild and get together to ‘live it up’ before real responsibilities kick in, and even though we parents try to restrain them, somehow deep inside we think that it’s okay to cut them some slack. I mean, they’re teenagers, their hormones are literally holding their brains hostages!

The sleepers of the cave were also youngsters, and Allah  specified that explicitly in the Holy Qur’an. They lived in a city with no rules and there’s no mention of any strict parents with unwavering curfews, is there? Imagine what boys their age would get together to do? They didn’t live in a fairytale; they lived in a real corrupt environment abound with fitna, from inadequately dressed women to parties and alcohol. But instead they chose to get together in the remembrance of Allah . They used their time wisely, learning their religion and planning on how to spread the true word of Allah . Now that’s a bunch of truly productive youngsters!

Lesson Two: Have a Solid Objective

The boys were an integral part of the community up until their lives were in danger. They never fled the scene just because they were different. They invested in themselves and had a clear-cut mission of reviving their immoral society. It makes me wonder about the stories we hear today: girls taking off their hijab because they couldn’t ‘fit in’, and boys drinking alcohol and smoking because otherwise they won’t be ‘cool’!

The wannabes of today have no mission and no goals and that’s not Islam. We are a unique ummah because we have an obligation to benefit ourselves and others, and we have an ‘end’ in mind, which is Jannah, In sha Allah. Yes, we want to be successful and wealthy and popular, but we don’t stop there like others do.

Stand up and remember who you are! A true Muslim is a leader, someone who can make a change in this world and isn’t selfish or scared or embarrassed of his or her identity. There’s no time for free time, people! If these youngsters could do it, so can we! Get up, start working, learning and teaching and always keep your eyes on the ultimate goal: pleasing Allah .

Lesson Three: Dead Ends Don’t Exist!

We tried, it didn’t work, no one is listening so that’s it. Who is up for a steamy game of PlayStation?

Unless your life is on the line, it’s not over! The boys tried delivering their message until they ran out of options, but did they stop there? Did they eventually conclude: “Hey, let’s go to the cave and nap for 309 years!” No, they chose the discomfort of living in a scary secluded cave, and as far as they were concerned, it was a temporary pause before coming up with a new plan. When they woke up, thinking they slept for a day or so, they said:

“Indeed, if they come to know of you, they will stone you or return you to their religion. And never would you succeed, then – ever.” [Qur’an: Chapter 18, Verse 20]

You bet they were still on their mission to ‘succeed’! The threat of death didn’t deter them. These young men were smart! They decided to proceed with caution, so as not to blow their covers. Having faith in Allah  and a goal of pleasing Him are the first steps, but an essential part of being productive is to calculate the risks and never quit.

Lesson Four: Focus Your Vision To Hit The Target

So were the boys wearing shoes or sandals? What was their dog’s name? How many were they exactly?

What difference does it make? How will these questions help you reach your goal more efficiently? Focus on what’s important and don’t distract yourself with minute details that Allah  did not bother mentioning! Instead, He dedicated a whole verse to people’s speculations about the real number of the sleepers, whether they were 3 or 5 or 7, and guess what? He  never gives an answer because it doesn’t matter. That’s not the point of the story! You want to be productive? Stop ‘guessing the unknown’, for it will be like trying to hit a target when you can’t even see it. Distractions will only blind you from hitting the real target, and in this story, that’s learning how to guard your faith against all odds.

Allah  honored the sleepers by mentioning them in the Qur’an and for us to be reminded every Friday of how they guarded their faith. Prophet Muhammad  said this chapter protects us from the ultimate trial of the Dajjal (the Anti-Christ) who will come with four challenges; one of them is testing our faith.

Hey, wait a second, what about the other three?

“No, I’m just a normal person like everyone else! Granted, I live in a 17-floor mansion, but you know, it’s very simple. The walls are gold-plated and the fireplaces and crystal lights are all voice-activated. I got my bedroom suite for only 250,000 pounds! Pretty good deal, huh? Anyway, enough about me! Now tell me something about you.”

You’ve probably met one of those people before; the kind who don’t necessarily brag out loud, but instead work it into the conversation to let everyone know how ‘well’ they’re doing.

They feign that shocked look when they hear that not every person in the world owns a private jet or spends summers in Cannes with all the celebrities. Then they’ll pout as they try to make you feel better about your miserable life, all the while adding more insult to injury, with details about how they spend lonely nights on their 20-feet yachts and light their cancerous cigars with $100 bills, rubbing their riches in your face till your teeth hurt.

Well, on second thought, I really hope you’ve never met anyone like that. I must say, it’s not a very pleasant experience.

The Story of the Man with Two Gardens

And even though these people might brag about modern-day luxuries, their three-step technique is as old as time itself, and is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an more than 1400 years ago in a chapter Muslims are encouraged to read every single Friday. It’s the story of the man with two gardens in Surat Al-Kahf (Verses 32-46), and yes, we read it weekly for a reason!

So let’s quickly recap the events of the story. Two men have a conversation in which the richer one boasts about his wealth, denies Judgment Day and lets arrogance overcome him. The less fortunate man reminds him it can all perish in an instant, and soon enough, the wealthy man’s estate falls to pieces before his eyes. The End!

Are there any productivity lessons we can take away from this short story? Let’s see:

Step One: Pretentiousness Turns Into Conceit

Perhaps they were neighbors, but companionship was all those two men had in common. One’s resources were scarce to the point of negligible, while the other man had it all! Endless palm trees surrounded his vast acres of lush grapevines and huge field of crops. A river gushed between his two heaven-like gardens to eliminate the problem of irrigation. His estate didn’t manage itself obviously, which is how we know he probably had hundreds of employees working for him. This man’s empire produced crops and fruits at full capacity, with 0% probability of lost or damaged goods. The money rolled in endlessly, and well, this man was evidently one of those ‘if you got it flaunt it’ kind of guy!

Yet the wealthy man did not go up to his poor companion and boast out of nowhere!

It wasn’t like:

“Knock knock!”
“Who’s there?”
“Rich!”
“Rich who?”
“Richer than you are! Bye.”

No, Allah  specifically explains that he let it slip in a conversation both men were already engaged in. And what was the poor man’s response? Nothing! I mean, what would you say when someone adamantly tries to make you feel less of a person because you’re not rich enough?

“And he had fruit, so he said to his companion while he was conversing with him, “I am greater than you in wealth and mightier in [numbers of] men.” [Qur’an: Chapter 18, Verse 34]

Lesson 1: Planting a seed of inadequacy in other people’s hearts is the first step downhill. You can’t drag someone down unless you’re lower than they are, and that’s what showing off turns us into: conceited, mean and low human beings.

Step Two: Conceit Turns Into Abuse

For some reason, some arrogant people with high statuses hear stories of disasters around the world and brush it off completely as if they’re not susceptible to any of that. Their wealth blinds them into thinking they’re superior in this world, and consequently the first runner-ups for bigger treasures in the Hereafter. That’s arrogance on top of arrogance! At this point, they become unfair not only to people, but to themselves, for they forget everything they own was ‘given’ to them by Allah’s will. The poor man reminds his rich neighbor that his arrogant attitude is a form of ‘disbelief’ in the Lord, and explains that all his wealth can disappear in the blink of an eye.

“His companion said to him while he was conversing with him, “Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you [as] a man? But as for me, He is Allah, my Lord, and I do not associate with my Lord anyone. And why did you, when you entered your garden, not say, ‘What Allah willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allah ‘? Although you see me less than you in wealth and children, It may be that my Lord will give me [something] better than your garden and will send upon it a calamity from the sky, and it will become a smooth, dusty ground, Or its water will become sunken [into the earth], so you would never be able to seek it.” [Qur’an: Chapter 18, Verses 37 – 41]

(Confession: I have to say every time I read this part of Surat Al-Kahf, I thought the poor man was asking Allah  to take the rich man’s wealth away, and it really confused me why a believer would do that. I would read that part quickly and block out my disappointment in the poor man. For years, I never thought of digging deeper and finding out the real meaning of this verse. I guess that was lack of humility on my part, thinking my interpretation was all there is to know! Now that I did my homework, I realize I was so wrong it’s ridiculous. Sorry Allah.)

Lesson 2: Conceit leads to abusing others, but before that happens, it violates our own souls: the pure loving hearts we once possessed become tarnished with self-importance. A true believer understands that poverty is a test from Allah , but so is wealth! It’s your humble attitude that counts, not your bank account.

Step Three: Abuse Turns Into Destruction

This poor man did not ask Allah  to terminate the wealthy man’s kingdom, but let’s face it, most people would feel violated and abused by the insinuations that they’re not ‘good enough’, and those negative feelings will definitely yield negative vibes.

Take for a example a poor woman, who can barely pay school tuition, listening to her rich cousin go into excruciating detail about how tiring it was to throw such a lavish party for her daughter’s sixteenth birthday. She complains how the tulips flown all the way from Holland were not the right color, and the giveaways were not engraved with each guest’s name, like oh my God, how embarrassing! Let’s pause here for a second, how do you think that poor woman listening to this would feel? She would probably start harboring anger and hatred towards all rich people, wouldn’t she?

The wealthy man’s empire tumbled to the ground, and in my humble opinion, that is also a symbol of destruction in general, whether in material things or in society as a whole. This poor woman will probably feel pressured to throw her own daughter a party too, with money she doesn’t have!

Lesson 3: Violating people’s meager lives by ridiculing them poisons their thoughts with the need to compete, to live up to shallow expectations, and that only creates hatred and jealousy.

How to Stay Humble

One of my beloved Islamic scholars became so popular that when he visited one country the people were very excited to meet him. They gathered around his car when he arrived and lifted the whole car up, chanting his name! When he came back home, he was found on his knees cleaning the floors of a public bathroom. When his followers gasped he cried and said, “Leave me be! I’m terrified of becoming arrogant. I’m here to remind myself that I’m just a mere slave of Allah .”

What about us? How do we remain humble in a society that shoves competition and immodesty down our throats?

Well, our beautiful Islam left no questions unanswered, and our beloved Prophet’s teachings  are overwhelmingly and beautifully profound.

Among the ways to remain humble are to:

• Feed the hungry
• Visit the sick, and
• Have patience when others disagree with you

But two of the characteristics I have personally found most effective and truly humbling are showing respect and mercy.

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As narrated that the Prophet  said:

“Those who do not show mercy to our young ones and do not realise the right of our elders are not from us.” [Sunan Abi Dawud]

Seek Refuge from the Dajjal

The Anti-Christ (Dajjal) will come with four ultimate and extremely difficult challenges, which is why we are taught to seek refuge in Allah  from him, according to the following hadith:

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah  said:

“When anyone of you has done his Tashahhud during Salat (prayer), he should seek refuge in Allah against four things and say: “Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min ‘adhabi jahannam, wa min ‘adhabil-qabr, wa min fitnatil-mahya wal-mamat, wa min sharri fitnatil-masihid-dajjal (O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the torment of Hell, from the torment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the mischief of Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal (Antichrist).” [Muslim]

We are up for some huge trials, people. The first challenge is the test of faith and the second one is in the test of wealth.

The treasures will follow the Dajjal like ‘swarms of bees’, so if wealth impresses or blinds us now, imagine how much trouble we will be in at that time. But Allah  is The Most Kind, He gave us all the aid we need in Surat Al-Kahf, and gave us the key to the trial of wealth in the verses after the story of the garden: remembering that all of this is temporary, for we will all stand before Him soon and testify to our deeds.

“And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability.” [Qur’an: Chapter 18, Verse 45]

Remember that 70 or 80 years on Earth are nothing compared to eternity in Jannah In sha Allah.

If you want to be productive instead of destructive, whenever you hear that voice in your head of money talking, do yourself a favor and shut it up! Money comes and goes, but the best is still ahead of us, and will last forever.

It’s one of those days. The alarm doesn’t go off. You’re late for an urgent meeting. There’s no edible food in the fridge and you’re out of coffee. You stomp your feet on the way out and maybe rip your pants. The car won’t start so you take a cab with a chatty driver who takes a wrong turn and you end up stuck in traffic for what seems like a whole week!

You just want to scream: “Why do BAD things happen to GOOD people?”

I remember feeling the same way when my son’s school closed down and with his autism, a change in routine was no walk in the park! Being a single mom, I honestly broke down, thinking Allah  was testing me at my weakest, and then I learnt about Prophet Musa’s  story with Al-Khidr, and why we read about it in Surat Al-Kahf every Friday. Since then, a blessed light cleared my vision, and nothing was ever the same again.

Recap? Okay, but let’s make it brief.

A man asks Prophet Musa  who is the most knowledgeable person alive and the blessed Prophet automatically answers that he was, since he’s the Messenger of God. But Allah  shows Prophet Musa  there’s someone else (a man named Al-Khidr) with even more knowledge. Prophet Musa  humbly embarks on a long journey to find him and learn from him.

Al-Khidr instructs the Prophet  not to ask any questions during the learning process, and he tries to oblige, expect it was very difficult not to wonder why the wise Al-Khidr would wreck the poor people’s ship, kill a young boy and fix a wall in a town where he was obviously not welcomed. Prophet Musa’s  legitimate curiosity got the best of him, and Al-Khidr finally explained that each act he did might have seemed horrible or confusing on the outside, but in reality it was for a very good cause [Sahih Al-Bukhari].

I guess this story is the origin of the phrase ‘blessings in disguise’.

What does this have to do with productivity, though?

I’ll let the following golden lessons answer this question.

Lesson One: The Only Way To Get More Is To Give More

Before I start with the first story of the poor people on the ship, can I just pause to admire Prophet Musa  for a little bit? Do you understand who he was? The chosen one! Yet he travelled a long way to learn from someone else. He could have easily went up to Al-Khidr and said: “Hey! I spoke to Allah  Himself. Can you top that?” But instead he asked politely to follow him! That kind of humility is the first step to achieving any goal. In order to learn and get ahead in life, you need to be humble enough to listen and absorb information from others.

The journey has a lot of action and movement. Al-Khidr did not sit Prophet Musa  down and then scribble words on the white board to teach him. No, he took his student out on live experiences. The first was on board of a ship that belonged to a group of poor people, and they were kind enough to welcome Al-Khidr and Prophet Musa  and help them reach their destination. Al-Khidr made a hole in the ship because he knew from Allah  there was a king behind them about to forcefully seize it. The very same ship these people used to help others, Allah  preserved it for them.

Now it all makes sense; when you give help, money, time or service from the heart, you’ll only get more, never lose.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad  was so right when he said: “Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth and the servant who forgives Allah adds to his respect, and the one who shows humility Allah elevates him in the estimation (of the people).” [Sahih Muslim]

Lesson Two: Nothing Is Lost, Only Replaced

This story is a hard pill to swallow. I mean, killing a child? Seriously? It’s every parent’s worst nightmare, and here he is Al-Khidr murdering an innocent soul because the boy might grow up and disobey his parents. How do we know if the heartache of losing a child isn’t worse than him misbehaving?

Well, Allah  knows.

And if you’ve ever watched a young man hit his dad or become an atheist or a young Muslim girl eloping with her boyfriend and causing a huge scandal, or becoming a drug addict, you will totally understand that sometimes death is a mercy when compared to other constantly draining disasters.

The murdered boy will most probably go to Jannah and his parents will only have the sweetest memories of him before having a new child, who will fill their lives with joy.

“Never does Allah (swt) take anything away without giving back something better.”

Lesson Three: Our Goodness Survives Even After We Are Gone

Prophet Musa  and Al-Khidr set out to a town of inhospitable people, the kind who wouldn’t hand you a glass of water if you were in a burning building. Imagine what these people would do once they find a buried treasure? Would they really give it to its rightful owners? Definitely not! Al-Khidr built a wall that was about to collapse to preserve the treasure under it until the orphan boys grow up, because that’s when they will need it the most. He explained his actions later, saying he did that for the sake of their father, who was a righteous man.

Oh, how we worry and pile the money up fearing our children will struggle after we pass away. All the trust funds and life insurances to secure the future hold nothing next to how we choose to live before we die. Allah  promises us many rewards if we stay on the right path, and one of them is financial security for our families when we can no longer provide for them.

Islam is anything but self-centered; it teaches us we are all connected, and every little good deed we do will have a ripple effect to benefit our loved ones and many others.

Do you feel the sentiments in this beautiful chapter? Do you see how Allah  cares for our feelings and softly soothes our hearts? In the first story, He  takes away the fear and anger of losing the ship. In the second, He  takes away the sadness and disappointment in a rebellious child, and in the third, He  takes away the anxiety of worrying about the future. This is our Lord, The Most Merciful and the Most Compassionate. If we really knew Him, or allowed ourselves that honor of learning about Him, we will never think that bad things could happen to His good people. They’re only hidden blessings.

I found out later my son’s previous school shut down because the teachers used to hit the kids with special needs and abuse them, knowing they can never report back to their parents. My son now goes to a new school, where the teachers are angels sent to us from heaven. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this happy, and I’m grateful for everything he’s learning and for who he’s becoming now. The blessing is clear and vivid now, no longer in disguise!

This holy chapter teaches us so much more than what meets the eye: how assumptions toy with our minds and lead us to the darkest of places; how giving others the benefit of the doubt is a forgotten ‘sunnah’ and shows us why we panic and breakdown, because we have zero knowledge of what the future beholds, and that’s the third trial the Anti-Christ will come with. The Dajjal will test our faith, blind us with wealth and impress us with his knowledge. He will be able to bring back the dead for God’s sake! The only way to survive this tribulation is to remain humble and sincere. The power of knowledge is in knowing there’s a lot we don’t know; it’s in true submission to the Great Lord and trusting in His will and timing.

Hey! What about the title and the three strikes? I forgot to mention we only get a number of chances and we must learn from our mistakes and that patience is the key to every good!

Ladies and gentlemen, we are approaching the end of this series. Please fasten your seat belts and make sure your seats are in the upright position. On behalf of the cabin crew, I would like to thank you for taking this journey with us and hope to see you here again soon. 

Okay fine, I use humor to hide my true feelings, and today I have a tiny heartache because I’m really going to miss talking about Surat Al-Kahf. On a lighter note, while researching the final story, which is about a king named ‘Dhul-Qarnayn’ (the man of the two horns), I found out that a possible reason for his title is his hairdo: two ponytails that looked like horns (that cheered me up honestly!) [See Dr. Yasir Qadhi’s lecture on Surat Al Kahf].

Others say it’s because he reached the two ‘horns’ of the sun, east and west. In fact, there are many interpretations of his title and Allah  knows best which the true one is. It’s his fascinating story that concerns us most since we are asked to read it every single Friday for the rest of our lives.

Dhul-Qarnayn was a legendary righteous king whom Allah  had given immense power. He used his gift to travel around the globe, encountering on his journey a number of different nations whom he helped reform. One of his greatest achievements is building a dam to protect the entire world from the terror of two monster tribes named Gog and Magog, whose penetration through that solid wall will be one of the ten major signs of Judgment Day. His story ends abruptly, but what I know is that Allah  mentioned Dhul-Qarnayn’s story in about 16 holy verses from the Qur’an for us to learn something crucial. So here it goes.

Dreams Are the Seeds of Power: Embrace Them

“Indeed We established him upon the earth, and We gave him to everything a way. So he followed a way.” [Qur’an: Chapter 18, Verses 84-85].

Now, this is just a speculation on my part so please don’t quote me on it. I can’t help but imagine this amazing king’s childhood and in my mind there was an incident that went something like this:

“Mommy, when I grow up I’m going to change the world!”

“That’s so sweet, honey. Now finish your vegetables please!”

“I mean it! My dream is to go on the most magnificent adventure of all time. I want to travel around the world and change it to the better…”

“I am so proud of you my son! You are destined for greatness. Never give up on that beautiful dream.”

Perhaps that wasn’t the exact conversation but one thing I’m sure of is that this worldwide journey did not happen by chance. Once Allah  gave him the means and the power, Dhul-Qarnayn did not waste any time. He used his passion for adventures to help people left and right, and followed his dreams. It’s that kind of aspiration that can conquer the unimaginable! This is what legendary leaders are made out of: heroic missions, a consuming passion and a dream too big for the human mind to absorb.

So tell me, how do you react to your children’s ‘unrealistic’ dreams? More importantly, which of your ambitions make you jump out of bed in the morning? Dhul-Qarnayn’s story is both an inspiration for those who have a goal, and a big slap on the face for those who don’t. If your dream falls short of pursuing the impossible for the sake of Allah , then, well, have a nice boring life! The ultimate dream is not tangled within this life, it’s to reach the highest heavens and by God, don’t let anything stop you from working hard to get there. That’s what makes Muslims so special: we have an end in mind.

Justice Is the Essence of Power: Establish It

“Indeed We established him upon the earth, and We gave him to everything a way. So he followed a way. Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it [as if] setting in a spring of dark mud, and he found near it a people. Allah said, “O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness.” He said, “As for one who wrongs, we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment. But as for one who believes and does righteousness, he will have a reward of Paradise, and we will speak to him from our command with ease.” [Qur’an: Chapter 18, Verses 84-88]

Dhul-Qarnayn’s first visit mentioned in the Qur’an was to a group of people living in the far west. His massively gigantic army and the features of his superiority were simply indescribable.

The word ‘everything’ in the first ayah above leaves me speechless. This king was, by far, the most powerful man on earth! So what did he do when he first arrived? You’d think he would confiscate the city’s treasures and set his military generals up in fancy castles. He would have a huge ceremony and command the big heads to bow to him just to show them who is boss! Surprisingly, the only demonstration of his power came in the form of establishing justice and enforcing a new constitution that treated everyone the same. No matter what your status was, if you did good you’d be rewarded and if you did wrong you’d be punished. Clear and simple.

Anyone who ever became successful like a president or any other authority figure started the path with a big dream, but without fairness and integrity, no one can withhold power for long. Once your dream of having children of your own comes true, if you don’t treat them justly, that dream will turn into a nightmare when you lose your kids’ love and respect. Reaching a higher rank requires taking consistent steps towards success, and the most eminent one of those is justice.

Abu Musa reported: the Messenger of Allah  said:

“It is out of reverence to Allah in respecting an aged Muslim, and the one who commits the Qur’an to memory and does not exaggerate pronouncing its letters nor forgets it after memorizing, and to respect the just ruler.” [Abu Dawud]

Yet, which of today’s leaders truly deserve our respect?

When There’s a ‘Will’ There Is a Way

“Then he followed a way. Until, when he reached [a pass] between two mountains, he found beside them a people who could hardly understand [his] speech. They said, “O Dhul-Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a barrier?” He said, “That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength; I will make between you and them a dam. Bring me sheets of iron” – until, when he had leveled [them] between the two mountain walls, he said, “Blow [with bellows],” until when he had made it [like] fire, he said, “Bring me, that I may pour over it molten copper.” So Gog and Magog were unable to pass over it, nor were they able [to effect] in it any penetration.” [Qur’an: Chapter 18, Verses 92-97]

On another trip, Dhul-Qarnayn came in contact with a terrified nation where he was offered payment in return for protection from the tribes of Gog and Magog, who were relentlessly corrupting their land. This king’s reputation and global power had obviously exceeded him, for these people knew him by name. Being the honorable person he is, Dhul-Qarnayn refused to take their money to build the huge wall and asked to be aided by their manpower instead. Now these people knew exactly what needed to be done, they were rich, strong and capable, they had solutions, natural resources and workers, and even though they were dying every day, they did nothing about it. What they lacked was the will and determination, two things we need to instill in ourselves and our children if we ever hope for a brighter future.

Every Minute Counts

Dhul-Qarnayn urged the people in the above story to work and literally saved the world, putting most of today’s leaders to shame. How is this king’s story not making the blood race in our veins? How are we still snuggling on our couches all day watching TV and eating chips when each and every one of us is an authority figure somewhere, whether at work or at home or even at school? I swear to Allah , there is NO time for free time! So tell me, are your dreams big enough?

With even minimum knowledge of the one-eyed Dajjal (Anti-Christ) you’ll easily figure out that the stage is already being set for his arrival. The wrong has become so normal that people are ashamed of doing what’s right. We’ve become so self-centered to the point that the closest relationships we have are not with our families but with our iPhones, iPods and iPads, the keyword being ‘I’ or ‘eye’, whichever way you want to look at it. This hideous being will come to test our faith, blind us with wealth, confuse us with his knowledge and assume power over the whole world, starting with taking control of our own minds. Instead of making every minute count, we are counting the minutes till the day is over. We are wasting precious time that we will NEVER get back!

Yes, this sounds like a reprimanding lecture, but we are all in the same boat here, myself included. How do we get out of this rut? I’m glad you asked.

You and Me: We Can Make a Difference

• Revolve your life around a dream that pleases Allah  and lifts up this beautiful ummah. Don’t be scared. Dream BIG!
• As you take each step forward remember to stay humble, for that’s the only way you’ll ever learn and succeed.
• Hold on to your principles and your faith, because no matter how common wrong has become, it still doesn’t make it right.
• Fight for justice. Speak up and make a difference.
• Step out into this world with a zest that will overwhelm people around you. Take pride in applying our beloved Prophet’s  advice and show the world how truly amazing you are.

To all the Muslims around the world: this is the final wake-up call. Dream the most enchantingly marvelous dreams and then wake up and be the proud powerful leaders you are meant to be.