Adapted from the Blog of FususAlHikam (Sunniforum.com)


“I cant do anything.
I am a useless person.
I have no skill or talent.
I have no strength or power.
Everything of mine is limited, insignificant!”

A mother sits her child on the other side of the room. Being totally aware of the short comings of the child she says, "Come to me." The child keeps its bright eyes on the mother, hoping to soon reunite in her arms. The child musters up some courage, with his diaper on, his baby feet, baby hands, this 3 foot person stands up. Then with unsteady baby feet this child puts one step on the right, the next unsteady baby step falls far across to the left. Slowly the baby leaves his hold on any support. The eyes are still focused on the mother, hoping to soon be reunited. The baby takes another unsteady step, uncoordinated. Feet are now too far apart to even stand properly. The child does not even take two proper steps that it suddenly starts to lose balance. Now totally off balance, eyes now showing its worry, its need and reliance on the mother, starts to tumble. The baby takes a few more short unsteady steps on his way to hit the ground but before the child hits the ground the mother runs over and scoops the child into her arms. The child did not even take two proper steps but the mother has a smile from ear to ear and kisses her child, praises the child, gives some reward to the child. The mother keeps in mind the effort the child made, the courage, making an attempt even without the support of any means.


A father calls his baby to him; the child tries and fails, tries again and fails. The father never gets upset at the falls of his child but rather laughs and even makes an excuse on behalf of the child, "You walked a few steps."

We have so many weaknesses and limitations. Our knowledge and ides are limited. Our courage and strength are limited. Our body itself is limited. We need sleep, we need a certain amount of food, we need this and we need that. We are very weak creatures yet with the grace of Allah subhaanahu wata’ala we are engaged in this tremendous effort. Does not Allah know of all of our weaknesses? Does He not take them into consideration? If a father or mother in this world can take into consideration their child’s shortcomings and make excuses for them so what about Allah subhaanahu wata’ala? He will not say, "Ok you walked a few steps"? How different is it than the child trying to walk to its father?

Khawajah sahabs poem comes to mind:

Jo nakaam rahey umr bhar bhi,
Beher haal koshish aashique na chorey,
Ye rishta muhabbat ka qaim rakhey,
Jo sad baar tootey wo sad baar joray.

'Though he may fail throughout his life,
yet still, a lover of Allah should never stop trying,
he should keep this bond of love always joined,
if it breaks a hundred times he should mend it a hundred times.'

A Farsi couplet comes to mind:
Rahmat e Haq ra bahana mijoyad.

Something to this effect:
the mercy of Allah subhaanahu wata’ala only looks for excuses.

So we keep trying again and again, and if we fail? So what? We dust ourselves off and try again. Even if we spend a lifetime trying and failing we should not give up and in this state we will meet with our Creator - the mercy of Allah subhaanahu wata’ala only looks for excuses!

Muster up some courage. Take a few steps. Keep your heart engaged in thinking about your weakness and your reliance and dependence on Allah subhaanahu wata’ala. Then watch.