Chap 9. You're not trying hard enough!

Chapter 9

You're not trying hard enough!

Page 93

Silence enveloped the room. Tabitha stared deeply in Abdul's eyes. He stared back while smiling. She could tell just by looking at him that he was truthful. All her life she had been a non Muslim who didn't really care much about God. She always knew that He was real but she never exactly knew which faith to follow. She then started thinking about her late daughter Theresa. Her heart became filled with emotions. Tabitha turned her head to the side.

"I'm an 86 year old woman." Tabitha plainly said.

She continued. "So much has happened in my life Abdul. Will God really accept me?"

There was a pause. Abdul kept his gaze on Tabitha.

"Absolutely not. The age limit is 63 years. Your destined to be in the hellfire for all eternity mommy." Abdul said.

Tabitha's heart sunk. "Oh my..."

Abdul erupted in laughter. He then held Tabitha's hands.

"Mother! Are you serious? This is God. Of course He will forgive you and grant you a noble entrance into Jannah." Abdul said.

"For you to even think such a thing... Remember mother, one should never despair in the Mercy of Ar Rahman."

"So now everything is okay for me? I don't have to do anything else?" Tabitha asked.

"You are still obligated to fulfill the remaining four pillars?" Said Abdul.

"Which are?"

"Your five daily Salah. You have to pray five times a day. You also have to give charity. You have to fast in the month of Ramadan. And you have to make pilgrimage to the Holy City of Makkah, if you're able to. Allah does not burden a soul beyond it's capacity. But just keep in mind mother: Your entry to Jannah is not dependant on any of the things that I have just mentioned." Abdul retorted.

"But yet they are made into an obligation. Why?" Asked Tabitha.

"Because mommy... We have to strive to earn the Mercy of Allah. If He Sees us praying, giving charity and fasting. He will love us even more and thus, He will be more prone to send us to His Paradise. Allah Sees all." Abdul said.

"What about my children?" Tabitha asked.

Abdul kept his eyes fixed on Tabitha.

"Will they..."

"Save yourself first mother. Then worry about your family." Abdul said.

Tabitha nodded her head. "Is that not selfish?"

"Absolutely not. Because The Prophet Muhammad SAWS did it, and he was the most selfless man who ever walked the face of the earth." Said Abdul.

"How did he pass away?" Asked Tabitha.

"Allah took his life in the year 633 A.D." Abdul said.

"For Allah is Mumeet, The Taker of Life. But He is also al-Muhiyy, The Giver of Life. And He is Able to do all."

"Was it painful? His death." Asked Tabitha.

"Death is never easy mother. He had a total of seven children. Six of them died in their infancy. That can't be easy." Abdul said.

Theresa instantly came to Tabitha's mind. She turned her head to the side.

"Yes." Tabitha said and slowly nodded her head.

"We have to keep in mind that Muhammad SAWS was a human being like you and me. He was not a robot, he felt pain just like everyone else. And what can be more painful then your children dying?" Abdul said.

Tabitha didn't reply. She nodded her head as she kept her face turned to the side.

Everything that Abdul was saying was indeed true. There is no pain greater than losing a child. Theresa had been dead now for over 42 years, but she will never forget her.

"Will I see her again?" Tabitha quietly asked.

Abdul didn't know who she was talking about. He didn't bother asking.

"Did she die as a Muslim?" Abdul asked instead.

"No." Tabitha replied.

"Do you know if she heard about Islam or was she oblivious?" Abdul asked.

"I do not know." Tabitha replied.

"If she was pubescent, sane, and heard the call of Islam, then she will be in the Paradise and you will see her again in Jannah, Insha'llah. If not, then you will never see her again, for she will be in the Hellfire." Said Abdul.

Tabitha finally turned her head to face Abdul. She nodded.

"But rest assured mother. Know that your Lord is capable of doing anything." Abdul added.