وَٱصْطَنَعْتُكَ لِنَفْسِى

Life Design is one of the themes that I stumbled upon recently, especially as a life coach who helps Muslims optimize decisions in their lives and position themselves in a manner that creates a bigger impact in this world and the next.

There's so many inspirations from the life of Prophet Musa (AS) on this, so many profound wisdoms, duas, inspirations, and frameworks that one can derive...

But this one is really my favorite moment: when Allah told Musa: and I have selected you, conditioned you, created you and prepared you for my service. All that from one word in Arabic: واصطنعتك - which is derived from صناعة - the act of designing, manufacturing, conditioning, and producing someone or something. 

If you're passionate about such theme, feel free to follow this mini-series this Ramadan. 
And let me know: what is your most essential life-design question? What is a decision, a long term or short term plan, a trial or tribulation, that you wish to find answers for from the book of Allah SWT?

Link
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGoWPYzNfKd/ 

#QuranicLifeDesign ​ ​
#ProphetMusaStory ​ ​

:))) I too love this conversation. How Allah engages Musa as in conversation. 
JazakAllah for bringing a smile on my face. May you see Allah’s as you go and feel His presence in your heart always. Ameen 

The next time you recite Surah Al Taha in your Salah especially, or outside of it. Imagine yourself to be Musa ( Alayhi Assalaam) and replace your life story with his life story, 
Outside of Salah pretend to have that conversation and reflect and see how your Lord Has favored you and chosen you, and shaped you for who you are and then take on life with in mind.
I speak to myself with this reflection. May Allah Grant Wisdom to appreciate His favors upon us.

Reflections on these Ayaat:

1) Trials will shape you 

For me, Ayahs 25 - 41 are a heart-to-heart between Allah SWT and Musa (AS). After giving Musa (AS) some firm instructions and giving him his first mission as a Messenger, Musa (AS) makes a heartfelt du'a to Allah SWT laying out where he feels he will need Allah's (SWT) support. Allah SWT responds by telling him that not only is his prayer is answered, but Allah SWT has been keeping a close 'watchful eye' on him throughout his life. After listing some of the trials that Musa (AS) went through,  Allah SWT tells Musa (AS) that he carefully crafted him for Himself (ayah 41). I.e. - The trials were a means by which Allah SWT moulded Musa's (AS) character for the trials to come later in his life.

****Key takeaway: Rather than lamenting difficult trials and moments in our lives, we should endeavour to adopt the mindset being taught here which is that these trials will set us up for what's to come tomorrow. When we understand this, this will shift our mindset from being overly worried about the present to understanding that this will shape us to be a better version of ourselves in the future. The purpose of trials is to make us, not to break us.****

2) Mother's happiness = Your happiness

Notice that Allah SWT begins this passage by telling Musa (AS) that He has granted him many favours previously. When listing these favours given to Musa (AS), Allah SWT includes a favour given to Musa's (AS) mother by returning her child back to her in order to cool her eyes and so she does not grieve. 

****Key takeaway: I think one thing we are learning here is that a mother's happiness is a favour not only for the mother but for her children also. In other words, your mother's happiness should equate to your happiness. One of the most difficult things that a person can see in this life is their mother being upset. For those of us who's mothers are still with us, we should show gratitude at their happiness and if not, then we should be grateful for having the opportunity to put a smile on their faces and take advantage of this.****

May Allah SWT enable us to adopt the teachings of the Qur'an in our daily lives. Ameen

Allahu ta'ala a'lam - Allah knows best

Ws wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu

JAk for your kind comments and ameen to your duas 

Let's carefully read these beautiful verses and take a moment to reflect upon the many times Allah has shown us His favors over the years. Those situations that looked impossible and He helped us through, the situations when He blessed us with the support of another person right when we needed it, the times when He put our hearts at ease, the times He saved us from sorrow, and so much more. And He still continues to help us and answer our duas today, Alhamdullilah. So many tests and so many favors, all molding us into becoming who we are, and guiding us to where we are, at this very moment. All for a purpose, insha'Allah. 

'Then you came here as pre-destined, O Moses! And I have selected you for My service.'  I wonder how Musa (a) felt when he heard these words. To know he is right where he belongs and that Allah had selected him for His service. 

May Allah select us for His service and allow us to fulfill our service to Him in the best way.

May Allah allow us to reflect back on the past with gratitude, and move forward with endless hope and complete trust in Him.

Right now everyone is confused about themselves and their place since it’s so hard to understand what is happening and so fast. Whenever in my life I feel like my life is tumbling out of my hands, I remind myself my life wasn’t in my hands in the first place. I always listen to Surah Taha because I truly believe it’s a surah Allah (SWT) has given to as a mercy just because of how it comforts the hearts at times of unease. It took one conversation with Allah (SWT)  for Prophet Musa (AS) to gain confidence and strength in himself. This conversation between them is just very soothing because Allah (SWT) comforts Prophet Musa (AS) the way we want to be comforted everyday in our life. Especially in the ayah  41 of Surah Taha                             

                                                      وَاصْطَنَعْتُكَ لِنَفْسِي       ( And I have attached thee to Myself).

Allah (SWT) tells Prophet Musa (AS) that He took care of him from when he was young. We forget that Allah (SWT) has done the same for us. We have never stepped outside of what Allah (SWT) has decreed for us. We have no idea of the situations that Allah (SWT) has already saved us from, the heartbreaks of  the situations we were in, because of the mercy of Allah (SWT) we were sheltered from it.

Even with everything going on in Prophet Musa’s (AS) life, He tells him to face the worst human on the face of the Earth. With the command Allah (SWT) comforts him even more in ayah 46

                           قَالَ لَا تَخَافَا ۖ إِنَّنِي مَعَكُمَا أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ    (He said: Fear not. Lo! I am with you twain, Hearing and Seeing)

With this Prophet Musa (AS) sets off to fight a huge battle to a man who was his father figure for a portion of his life.  How great is the comfort of Allah (SWT) which can bring ease to a situation that we have no way of imagining. We truly do not know how to handle the situation around us right now but keep in mind in whose hands the situation is in. It’s the same one who brought victory to Bani Israel over people they had no way of winning over. It’s still Him who bought victory to an army of 300 against 1000. His aid is more than we can imagine. His comfort is better than the one we can just hope for. Allah (SWT) is always with us. Let us not fall into the trap of Shaytan and start to ostracize ourselves because we see this as a punishment. We don’t know that at all. This could be a point in our life to elevate our status so we can meet Our Lord with bright and happy faces.

Muslim Student Organization & Women in Islam  CCNY

Some things that help in dawah deduced from these verses , though there are more to list:

1. Having an expanded chest (being stress free) is best for giving dawah to be able to focus on the listener and not the thing causing you stress.
2. Speaking clearly to be able to beautify the good with your speech, and vilify the evil is an asset for the da3i
3.Having a teammate in dawah can cause for more strength and success in your mission
4. Constantly making dhikr of Allah is your source of strength , and the more difficult the task the more you should remember Allah 

JazakAllah, 
And last but not the least,
Never fear as the Master of the Multiverse is always with the da3i, Who is personally listening and seeing everything. 