Lines of hope

In order to remain steadfast on the path to Allah ta’ala and be of those whom He envelopes with His special love, we have to make an active commitment to follow the Sunnah of Rasulullah (SAW).

By SALEEMAH JAFFER

AS the post-Ramadan slump sets in, we may find ourselves faced with challenges on a daily basis that feel like they are testing our Iman.

It is sometimes hard to believe that our 24 hours in Ramadan feels so different to our days now. In these moments, where we long for the person we were in that blessed month, that we are reminded: the Lord of Ramadan, and of all the worlds, has not disappeared with the appearance of the Shawwaal moon. Allah ta’ala is ever-present and His Love, Mercy and Forgiveness extend beyond Ramadan.

Recently, I came across two hadith while in conversation with my mother, that serves as both reminders and as sources of hope in moments where the challenges feel insurmountable.

The first hadith is reported by Abdullah ibn Mas’ud who said: ‘The Prophet (SAW) drew a square, and in the middle he drew a line which poked out the end. Across the middle line, he drew some smaller lines. The Prophet said (SAW), “This is man and the square surrounding him is death. The middle line is his worldly hopes, and the smaller lines are his troubles. If this one misses him, another will distress him. If that one misses him, another will distress him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari).

This hadith reminds us that our lives are finite, and our hopes and dreams may extend beyond our allotted lifetimes. It also reminds us that we may plan and ultimately what happens is the Will of Allah ta’ala.

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There is a popular saying that has been attributed to Imam Shafi’: ‘My heart is at ease knowing that what was meant for me will never miss me, and that what misses me was never meant for me.’

This diagrammatic hadith conveys a similar meaning, reminding us that Allah ta’ala is Ar-Raziq, the Sustainer, and As-Samad, the One who is not in need of anything for anything, yet everything is in need of Him for everything. Our reliance on Allah ta’ala and our obedience to Him are both sources of hope and barakah in our lives. It also reminds us that we won’t live forever, and that one day we will meet our Lord. These moments we have right now are valuable, and we should constantly be trying to fill our lives with actions that are pleasing to Allah ta’ala.

The second hadith is narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah, who said: ‘We were with the Prophet (SAW), and he drew a line (in the sand), then he drew two lines to its right and two to its left. Then he put his hand on the middle line and said: “This is the path of Allah.” Then he (SAW) recited the verse (Al-An’am, 153): “And verily, this (i.e. Allah’s Commandments) is My straight path, so follow it and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you from His path…” (Sunan Ibn Majah).

Our lives are filled with potential distractions at every turn. Choosing to pray on time, prioritising good deeds, and spending time with the Quran are all ways in which we can spend our time in the way of Allah ta’ala. This hadith reminded me of Surah Ali Imran, 31, where Allah ta’ala says, which may mean: ‘Say, (O Prophet), If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’

In order to remain steadfast on the path to Allah ta’ala and be of those whom He envelopes with His special love, we have to make an active commitment to follow the Sunnah of Rasulullah (SAW).

These two hadith serve as reminders for us, that we won’t be in this dunya forever, and that we need to make the most of the time we have.

Saleemah Jaffer is a PhD student, and she coordinates Women’s Spiritual Development Programmes for Madina Institute.

This article was first published in the April 25, 2025 edition of Muslim Views under Saleemah Jaffer’s monthly column, ‘THE ROAD WELL TRAVELLED – exploring issues of social responsibility, spirituality and agency’.