The Road Not Taken
A teacher is our guide. They are a bridge that connects us to our ultimate destination. But what is our true destination? It is the Pleasure of Allah.
There are many guides who claim to know the way and countless bridges that appear to lead there. Yet, we must choose wisely which ones to trust.
Some bridges are strong and enduring. They have withstood the test of time, carrying thousands safely to their destination.
There are also those that, despite a flashy opening, were poorly built, perhaps even hastily constructed with cheap materials. While some can clearly see the shoddy workmanship and steer clear, others are deceived, and within months—if not days—these bridges collapse.
Then there are bridges that started off strong but deteriorated due to poor maintenance or exposure to harmful influences. When these fall, they bring great harm, as many trusted them for their strength.
In these moments of collapse, always remember your destination. Only a foolish traveler would settle on a bridge and forget the journey’s end.
Often, the weakness in a bridge is not exposed with the first fallen brick. Many bricks may loosen before its true frailty is laid bare. As Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه reported, when a thief was brought to Umar (for punishment), the man said, “By Allah, I have never stolen before this time.” Umar replied, “You lie, for Allah would not expose His servant on their first sin” [Kitab Az-Zuhd].
The only guide we trust without question is the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and the only bridge that is infallible is his blessed Sunnah. Imam Malik رحمه الله, while in Madinah, once pointed to the grave of the Prophet ﷺ and said, “Everyone’s speech is either accepted or rejected, except for the one buried here.”
For Those That Suffered
To those who feel shaken when the bridges you once trusted begin to crumble—the teachers who once seemed solid, now tainted by scandal—you are not alone. Some of you may have found Islam because of their guidance. Others may have spent countless hours immersed in their teachings, allowing them to become part of your spiritual journey and perhaps even part of your family through the screen. But remember this: what drew you to them was not the person themselves, but how they connected you to Allah, drawing you closer to Him and to the beauty of His religion.
Think of your love and dedication as bound to the destination, not just to the bridge. If one bridge falls or proves weak, it’s the path and the journey toward Allah that matters, not the structure itself. When a bridge breaks, you transfer what it held to another, secure bridge and keep moving forward. Islam remains perfect, even if some of its representatives falter. Pray for those who once taught you, support those affected, and remember that after the Prophets of Allah, no one is infallible. Our reliance and hope should rest in Allah alone, not in His servants.
And take heart, for there are still bridges that stand strong and teachers who exemplify transparency, integrity, and dedication. As disheartening as it may be to see some fail, don’t let the faults of a few overshadow the beauty and sincerity of many. There are guides who remain true, leading by example and walking their talk. Don’t let the cracks in some bridges keep you from seeing the beauty and reliability in others.
Become A Guide Yourself
In a world of uncertainty, strive to become a guide for your family rather than relying solely on others. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The leader of people is a guardian and responsible for his subjects. A man is the guardian of his family and responsible for them, and a woman is the guardian of her husband’s home and children and is responsible for them” [Bukhari].
No one can guide your family like you can. Outsiders may not fully understand your family’s unique needs, values, or dynamics, and sometimes, even well-meaning advice can be misguided or self-serving. Others might have limited perspectives, biases, or even hidden motives that could lead your loved ones astray or worse, harm them. As a parent or guardian, only you can truly discern what’s best for them because you know their strengths, weaknesses, hopes, and challenges. You are the one who deeply cares for their success and well-being, not just in this life, but in the next.
Building yourself—spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally—empowers you to offer them grounded and sincere guidance, free from any hidden agendas. When you are strong and well-informed, you become a trustworthy source of wisdom, equipped to navigate them through life’s complexities. You can shield them from harmful influences and provide the foundation they need to thrive. In this ever-changing world, no one else will be as committed to your family’s welfare as you are. So invest in yourself, not just for your own growth, but so that you can fulfill the responsibility of being their steadfast guide, mentor, and protector.
Though many guides may lead people astray, we should never lose hope in reaching our final destination. There are paths that seem promising but are filled with hidden pitfalls, and there are those who pose as guides but mislead, intentionally or otherwise. Yet, as believers, we know that no detour or difficulty goes unnoticed by Allah, for He is ever-watchful and the best of judges. When we strive sincerely, even if we falter, Allah’s mercy is boundless, and He opens doors to guidance that we might not even see.
Every setback or misstep is an opportunity for growth, a lesson from which we can emerge wiser and stronger. Our journey is not defined by the mistakes we make but by our resolve to keep moving toward the pleasure of Allah. We are never alone, and we are never without help. Allah sees the purity of our intentions and the struggles we endure. When we place our trust in Him, He provides guidance in ways we might never expect, sending us help, strength, and clarity exactly when we need it. So long as we remain patient, sincere, and hopeful, we can trust that Allah will lead us to the right path and that He alone will judge our efforts with perfect justice and mercy.
Like the scholars of old, aim to eliminate unnecessary bridges between yourself and your destination. When seeking guidance, cross only the bridges that have proven reliable over time. Remember, not all that glitters is gold, and not every bridge is safe to tread.
For those striving to build a solid bridge and become a guide for their families:
- Avoid superficial progress: Random feel-good events can give the illusion of progress, but they may mean you’ve reached a plateau. Time is precious. Find a grounded scholar and invest in structured learning.
- Focus on foundational learning: Structured education requires sacrifice and dedication. It is worth every second at the end of the day. Prioritize the essentials, building a solid foundation first. Getting a window first and then trying to re-size the wall to make it fit will just waste more time and money. It might even lead you to a burn-out and harm your progress.
- Read consistently: Read Read Read. The only one being harmed by your reading is your ignorance. Children learn by watching. When they see their elders committed to learning, it lights a spark within them to seek knowledge too.
- Always be on the safe side: It is always better to be safe than sorry especially when it comes to the Deen. What is clear we take from it and what is not we stay far far away from it, no matter what anyone says about it later. When it comes to doubtful matters we are supposed to ask the scholars. Whenever we come across scholars differentiating between something being disliked (makruh) or impermissible (haram) then stay far away from it and we will be safe. Our leaving it won’t be questioned but our doing it could be questioned if it turns out to be wrong. But if the scholars differentiate on something being permissible (mustahab) or obligatory (wajib) then do it to the best of your ability for we will always win.
- How do we find a trustworthy scholar?: Use these litmus tests to assess a scholar:
- Look at their education and mentors. Are they vouched for by senior scholars?
- Notice if they err on the side of caution and fear of Allah in their rulings.
- Observe their financial dealings. Sometimes just $10 is enough to show you the reality of a person.
- Observe their words and actions regarding the opposite gender.
The Problem of Evil
Take a step back. Forget everything except for the fact that Allah is the Most Wise and the Most Just. We need to be remembered is that there is Divine Wisdom behind everything that Allah does irrespective if that is made clear to us or not. We don’t even have the pixel whereas Allah has the complete picture and more.
Ex: A person paints the most beautiful painting in the world that is the size of a wall. A person standing right in front of the wall is viewing only that part of the painting that is in front of him that shows the use of dark colors and dark themes. This person has not seen the whole painting and he cannot do so because of his limited capability. He cannot see how certain dark colours were needed to complement and amplify the much larger and brighter theme used across the painting. Would it be right to blame the entire painting just by observing one minute part of it?
If this is the case at the human level, then what about at the level of Divine. Does it make sense for a human being that doesn’t even understand how his own body functions or how his sustenance reaches him, to question the All Knowing, the Most Just, the Most Powerful, the All Wise, the Most Merciful.
C. S. famously said, “A man does not call something crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.” Who decides what is good and what is bad? Allah. Who has the most complete knowledge of any matter from every dimension? Allah.
If we look at the story of Prophet Musa and Khidr in Surah al-Kahf, it is clear that there are things that only Allah Knows and we cannot comprehend the wisdom and justice behind it a lot of the time. In all the cases that are highlighted below, the reasons were revealed by Allah to Khidr, and not something he merely observed or deduced.
Scenario 1
Apparent: Khidr made a hole in the boat of the people that helped them. From what is apparent, Khidr harmed the boat of the very people that helped them
Divine Wisdom: The boat belonged to a group of people who were poor and oppressed. Doesn’t it make the situation worse? No. An evil king was seizing all the boats for himself. By damaging the boat, Khidr actually safeguarded it from being seized by the evil king and helped the poor family from dying out of poverty and hunger.
Scenario 2
Apparent: Khidr killed a young boy that they met. From what is apparent, this was cold blooded murder of an innocent soul.
Divine Wisdom: The boy was to grow up to become an oppressive man that would rebel, harm his parents, and make them leave the fold of Islam. Allah informed Khidr of the boy’s state and caused him to know the end of the boy’s affair. With the boy dying young, he would be admitted to Jannah. His parents were also protected and lived life as Muslims and had more children that were good and upon the true religion of Islam.
Scenario 3
Apparent: Khidr fixed a wall that was about to collapse in a city whose people had been mean to them and had shut their doors in their faces.
Divine Wisdom: The wall that Khidr fixed belonged to two orphaned boys in the city. Under it was a hidden treasure. If the wall had collapsed, the evil people of the city would have snatched it away from the orphans and left them with nothing as the orphans were still young children. By repairing the wall, Khidr made sure that the property of the orphans was protected till they came of age and decided to do what they wanted with their property.
Just because we don’t understand the wisdom behind it, just like the child doesn’t understand its own father allowing him to be cut open, doesn’t mean that we question or deny Allah. To further understand this, look at this beautiful hadith.
Umar ibn al-Khattab reported: Some prisoners were brought to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ amongst whom there was a woman who was running (searching for her child). When she saw a child among the captives, she took hold of it, pressed it against her chest and nursed it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Do you think this woman would ever throw her child in fire?" We said, "By Allah, she would never throw the child in fire." Thereupon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Verily, Allah is more merciful to His slaves than this woman is to her child". [Bukhari and Muslim]
All the disasters and tribulations that happen on earth, or happen to the individual, or to his wealth or family, etc., were known to Allah before they happened, He has written them in Al-Lawh Al-Mahfoodh (the Preserved Tablet).
Allah says:
مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ إِلَّا فِى كِتَبٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّبْرَأَهَآ ۚ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌۭ
“No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being — indeed that, for Allah, is easy.” [Surah al-Hadid, 22]
كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِٱلشَّرِّ وَٱلْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةًۭ ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ
“Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as a trial, then to Us you will all be returned” [Surah al-Anbiya, 35]
أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ
وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْكَذِبِينَ
“Do the people think that they will be left to say, ‘We believe’ and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars” [Surah al-Ankabut, 2-3].
The evil we see in natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, plagues and the like, we know that Allah allowed it to happen for a reason and there is definitely goodness behind it, whether it was observable to us or not. Likewise with the evil perpetrated by human beings. We ought to understand that when Allah created this world, it was not intended to be free from evil. He, the Exalted, declared clearly that this life is full of trials.
A person’s evil actions may harm him and a few around him, but it may benefit others and have an indirect form of good over an extended duration of time that is not visible to us. The end outcome of everything that happens eventually is good irrespective of how bad or evil the original action was. Why? No matter what disasters befall a person, it is good for him, whether he realizes that or not, because Allah does not decree anything but it is good. Also,because it has to be in line with Allah’s Perfect Justice and Wisdom.
Allah says:
قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَآ إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَىٰنَا ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
“Say, “Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector.” And upon Allah let the believers rely.” [Surah at-Tawbah, 51]
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “Verily, Allah does not decree anything for the believer except what is good for him.” [Ahmad]
Allah says,
ظَهَرَ ٱلْفَسَادُ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِى ٱلنَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى عَمِلُوا۟ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by (reason of) what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of (the consequence of) what they have done that perhaps they will return (to righteousness). [Surah ar-Rum, 41]
Here we see that corruption is an evil that is a product of human action. But in the long run, there is an ultimate good to the corruption that people may return to the right path.
Every disaster happens only by Allah's leave. If He had not willed it, it would not have happened, but Allah permitted it to happen and decreed it, and so it happened and there is always some good in it. Allah says,
مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۭ
No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah . And whoever believes in Allah - He will guide his heart. And Allah is Knowing of all things [Surah al-Taghabun, 11]
Imam Ibn Kathir writes - this means that whoever suffered an affliction and knew that it occurred by Allah’s judgment and decree, and he patiently abides, awaiting Allah’s reward, then Allah will guide his heart, and will compensate him for his loss in this life by granting guidance to his heart and certainty in faith. Allah will replace whatever he lost with something similar or something better. [Tafsir Ibn Kathir]
Once a person knows that all calamities happen by the will and decree of Allah, then he has to believe and submit and be patient. The reward for patience is Paradise, as Allah Says,
وَجَزَىٰهُم بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ جَنَّةًۭ وَحَرِيرًۭا
and reward them for their perseverance with a Garden (in Jannah) and (garments of) silk. [Surah al-Insan, 12]
All the suffering that we see around us, disasters, killing of innocent children, and so much more can lead one to claim - “life is unfair”. This is only legitimate if there was no Day of Judgement to bring all the evildoers to account and no Hereafter as a recompense and reward for those that were tested. Indeed Allah is Most Just.
What good is there in the killing of children? We have shown in the story of Khidr how what seemed apparent to us by the cold blooded murder of the child was in reality good for the child as well as the family. Out of the vast ocean of wisdom, another point that could be highlighted on this topic is the hadith where the Prophet ﷺ narrated: “It will be said to children on the Day of Resurrection: Enter Paradise. They will say: Our Lord, (we can’t) unless our fathers and mothers enter. Allah Almighty will say: Why do I see them hesitant to enter Paradise? They will say: O Lord, our fathers and mothers. Allah will say: Enter Paradise, all of you and your parents. [Ahmad]
The ‘untimely’ and ‘unfair’ death of the child has now become a source of eternal success for not just the child but also its parents.
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