Saving the Best 'Til Last

Archived under My Writings , Tazkiyyah .

'Save the best 'til last'. Most if not all of you have probably heard this phrase before and in some cases it rings true:

-> you save that luscious ice-cream until after dinner in order to devour it slowly;
-> you 'wait until later' to give good news because it makes it all the more exciting;
-> even women add the finishing touches after having done their hair and worn their finest clothes.

However, it seems that many of us put the very best at the bottom of our priority list. You know what it is; it should be that which governs our lives - our every action and speech. It should be that which we strive to live by. It should be that which we yearn to learn about. Indeed, many of us leave it 'til last, and sadly it's Islaam.

If we look to the example of the sahaabah, we can see that before everything, Islaam was at the top of their list. Their love of Allaah, His legislated way of life and His noble Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) reigned above all. We could see this from the way they lived their lives. No doubt, they were also engaged of actions of this world - i.e. working, buying and selling - but these too were governed by Islaam.

Today, when we hear of lectures, study circles or the like, for most of us we simply do not have the time even though we may have the time. We place Islaam after the affairs of the dunyaa. "Oh, I've got to do this first, then I'll pray." How many times have we said this? Is it not to Allaah we are praying? And... is it not Allaah Who has given us the ability to do that which we are putting ahead of our salaah?

Sadly, we have our prorities messed up and we should take heed to this aayah:

May this be a beneficial reminder first to myself before anyone else and I pray that Allaah increases us all in steadfastness upon His Path, aameen.

Was-salaamu 'alaikum
~ Umm Junayd.

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