I have been critically analysing the passive approach that we take towards our most important meeting — whereas we diligently prepare for our work/worldly meetings.

We prepare thoroughly for our work meetings with no stone unturned. This is because we have a responsibility towards our employer. For instance, you have been assigned a task to win a tender. There is an immense pressure because you are competing with several other corporations who have assigned this task to equally competent people. Therefore, we work hard towards the deadline relentlessly to win the tender.

This made me reflect about what we have accomplished in preparation for our meeting with الله عزوجل. The meeting which will be a test of our status as a believer. A meeting which can happen unexpectedly. A steadfast believer is most likely to prioritise his meeting with الله عزوجل over this دنيا. The beloved servants of الله عزوجل love competing with each other in good deeds to meet الله عزوجل . They are not competing to only enter into جنة but to attain the highest level in جنة such is their affection for الله عزوجل.

Let's start preparing consistently for our meeting with الله عزوجل  because we don't know our deadline to answer the questions for our most important presentation. And, this presentation of our deeds is continuously updated and submitted to الله عزوجل by His appointed angels. 

'If the human knew the pleasure of meeting الله and being near Him, he would feel grief from being distant to Him.' Ibn Qayyim (RA)

Yah الله don't include us amongst those who are distant from You, and teach us the best ways to prepare for our meeting with You. امين.

Don't fail to prepare for what truly matters.

A lot of people ask how can we have free will and freedom of choice if Allah has all knowledge and he knows what we are going to do?
Wa lilahi al mathalol a'laa
And to Allah is the greatest of examples.

Looking at Chapter 18: Al-Kahf, Verses: 65 — 70, 78, 82:
Why did Musa not act differently if Khidr told him the end result? How did Khidr know what the outcome of his interaction with Musa was going to be? Of course, the simple answer to this is that Allah endowed him with this knowledge. However, reflecting on the amazing interaction between Khidr and Musa. Khidr said from the beginning to Musa, you will not be patient. Musa replied that he would be patient. Khidr replies how do you know how you will act with something you do not have knowledge of. Musa then responds over and over again throughout his interactions with Khidr that he will be patient and not disobey him. From Musa's point of view he was in control of his own actions. He had free will to continue to ask and react to the situations even though Khidr told him it was going to be difficult and that he would not be patient. Did the knowledge that Khidr had interfere or impact Musa's role or reaction?


Referencing both Chapter 6 : Al-An'aam, Verses: 26 — 32 and Chapter 35 : Faatir, Verses: 37 — 39:
Where Allah clearly states that even with the knowledge that those in hell have if they were dropped back into the world, they would do the same exact thing with their free will and freedom of choice. It is not an acceptable excuse to say I did not know or I did not have long enough to pass the test. The knowledge that those in hell have as they are being punished, would not change their choices if they to return to earth, Allah says it is is a lie for them to think that way. Allah is the truth and what he has sent with the messengers is the truth.

Going back to Chapter 18 : Al-Kahf, Verses: 65 — 70, 78, 82:
SubhanaAllah even though Khidr told him directly, Musa freely made the choices that led to the outcome he was told about. So with Allah is the highest and greatest example, think about our role in the decisions we make. Allah has full knowledge of everything and he tells us directly in the Quran what is the outcome. Does that force what people choose to do directly?

With Allah ultimate knowledge and he knows everything about us with all knowledge of everything as the creator. Isn't the similitude mind blowing?

The above reflection adds to the example of a teacher Wa lilahi al mathalol a'laa. A teacher can usually tell if someone will pass or fail their final exam and class. This is based on the effort, the character, the work put in, etc. Because the teacher designed the course they know how students will interact. The teacher has a sense of which students will pass and which will fail. This is without even creation or real knowledge of those human beings, just on a given course.

The last point of similar reflection is if you are standing on the 30th floor of a building Wa lilahi al mathalol a'laa. You can see a car speeding down the road, on the other end of the street you see a ball rolling into the street with a child running behind. From the perspective of being above you can see that the distracted driver will hit the child with the car. You are not controlling either the driver of the car or the child running in the street. They each are making choices that are not controlled by you on that 30th floor. This is all within your limited knowledge that is confined in time and space.

Reflecting on the story of Khidr and Musa, the example of a teacher’s knowledge of their students, and the person standing on the building it is all linear in knowledge of the Human level.  Now compare that to the knowledge of Allah The Creator of the Human being, the heavens, and the earth as well as of time and space. The tenses in the Quran are not by happenstance, for Allah time is a creation as well. Past, Present, and Future, are known to him and not different things For Allah is Above and Greater than All things.  Allah has full knowledge which is the truth, the creation smaller than the atom to the vastness of the heavens and the universe.

Brother Ibrahim, Ma Sha Allah, I’ve never understood it this good before. SubhanAllah. 
May Allah benefit us from that which He SWT has taught us, and teach us that which will benefit us, and increase us in knowledge.

Jazak Allah Khair for sharing this profound reflection! Looking forward for more!! 