By - Alimah Nadia Sadiq Thursday, January 29, 2015
Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah ta'ala), the mid-year exams are over and the results are declared. The students of NUI really worked hard for these exams. There were anxieties, sleepless nights, exertion and dedication, all for Allah ta'ala. May Allah ta'ala accept it from everyone, and increase them in their knowledge and actions to please Allah ta'ala.
A special thing about these exams was that it was not just the NUI English branch participating in these efforts, but the students of Sharjah and Deirah campuses as well.
It was an overwhelming feeling to see the number of students on the Report Day from all these different corners of the UAE and, of course, across the globe online.
These exams are over, alhamdulillah, but there is another exam which is continuously taking place for all of us, and that is the exam of our lives. Every one of us is in an examination room. Just like any other exam, the books and course is given to us. Our course comprises of the Qur’an and the Sunnah (way, method) of the Prophet salallaho alaihe wasallam. Just like any other exam, we are given various questions - sometimes in the form of sicknesses, sometimes in the form of health. At times our question is about our relations, and sometimes the questions are asked about our connection with Allah ta'ala. Sometimes we are tested with patience, and sometimes with gratefulness. The interesting thing about this exam is that all the answers are there in the Qur’an. Not only has Allah ta'ala highlighted the answers, but He has also told us that some answers are the approved answers and some are the rejected ones. Allah ta'ala has given us the answer sheets of the people who sat in the same exam, and told us to follow the ones who passed and learn from the ones who failed.
When a question is put forward to us about being patient in sicknesses and trials, Allah ta'ala has given us the answer of Ayyub alaihe salam. When a question of reacting to the wealth bestowed upon us is asked from us, Allah ta'ala has given the example of Sulaiman alaihe salam. When a critical question about dealing with people comes forward in our lives, then the answer is given to us through the beautiful example of our Prophet salallaho alaihe wasallam. When the question comes about attaining power and position, Allah ta'ala tells us the answer of the Pharaoh, and warns us that his answer was not accepted. Hence, the Qur’an and the Hadith (narration) of the Prophet salallaho alaihe wasallam tells us about every possible question and every accepted answer. We do not even have to think or come up with an answer from our own thinking, but just have to copy the answers already told to us.
Just like any other exam, this exam is also timed. But the difference is that the exams in the academy have a time which is told to us, but the time given for the exam of our lives is kept secret. We are not told if we have enough time to complete it. Suddenly, it will be announced, ‘Time up!’
Once the time is up, it’s time to hand over our answer sheets to the angels, who are going to take it to the examiner, who is none other than Allah ta'ala Himself. Once we are marked for all our answers, and are given either some bonus points for extra efforts and pure intentions, or the points are deducted because of improper responses and lack of etiquettes (may Allah ta'ala protect us from that), then we are called forward to collect our reports. Our Report Day is announced, and we all get together and either receive it with pride in our right hands, or get it with remorse and guilt from our backs (may Allah ta'ala protect us).
So, when I see all these beautiful students of NUI struggling so hard with extreme effort for the madarasah exams, it just comes in my heart that how I wish all of us can put the same effort and struggle for the exam which Allah ta'ala is taking from us. Because, if we fail the exam of the madrasah, we still have a second chance; but the exam given to us by Allah ta'ala has only one chance, and there are no retakes.
So, we have to realize that all of us are sitting in an examination room. We all have to bring our books into action. This exam is not about our brains; it’s all about our hearts.
Let us all connect to Allah ta'ala and seek His help to put forward an easy exam for us, and then give us strength and courage to take it, and most of all, help us to go through this exam of life in the way He likes and accepts.
As our dear Shaykh says,
‘It’s not about qaabiliyat (ability), it’s all about qubooliyat (acceptance).’
This life is full of exams.
The wealth, the health and the gain
The grief, the sorrow and the pain
This life is full of exams
We start when we are still young,
With each step we become more strong
This life is full of exams
The little steps we took when we were two
Holding the finger of our moms, but fearing too
This life is full of exams
The first bicycle ride we had with our dad
Holding our courage and making him glad.
Life is full of exams
The passion of youth and the strength in the arms
Still trying to hold on to the Qur’an in our palms
Life is full of exams.
The cold, the flu and sometimes the headaches
The expectations and the sudden heart breaks,
Life is full of exams.
The family, the homes, the food that we ate,
Sometimes we dislike the vegetable in our plate
Life is full of exams.
We need to know, we need to learn
The secret of this we need to earn
Life is full of exams.
All we need is some patience and strength
Thankfulness, gratitude and a heart that repents
Life is full of exams.
All we know is that we are weak, we are slow
We just need to submit, we just need to bow
Life is full of exams.
And then we have this hope from our Master
With His help only we will go through faster.....
May Allah ta'ala accept us all,
Nadia Sadiq
Always in the service of Nur ul Ilm Academy
Thursday, January 29th, 2015 | Rabi al-Thani 9th, 1436
