بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
✅ Just recently I discovered there was going to be an event here through somebody sharing a post on one of the group chats which I'm currently a member of and out of curiosity I clicked on the link to read a post regarding an upcoming conference. Being someone who enjoys obtaining valuable knowledge and useful information, with Allah's Will, whenever I can I decided to register via the link to the form mentioned in the post.
Within the Google form for registering the interested attendees there was a part asking for evidence of payment and a stranger's GCash number. No obvious information about a specific amount of money to give. I reckoned they wanted guests to donate any amount they can give for Allah's sake prior to showing up at the event so I opened the GCash application and sent 190 pesos to purchase two tickets.
After filling up the form, with an intention also to support the school they mentioned was the reason for the money which the hosts were attempting to collect from attendees, I later found out that the price of the ticket for the regular guests is 3500 pesos. I'm guessing that's like 42 US dollars or something? How much is that in Saudi Arabian riyals vs US Dollars? Then for the 2nd guests who would be permitted to sit in better seats would pray around 5000 something pesos while the VIPs would be given the so-called privilege to be seated at the very front of the auditorium if they pay 10,000 pesos. For a lot of Filipino Muslims who still need to settle some debts and who don't fancy pretentious extravagance or being reckless spendthrifts, I thought the price of all the tickets was absolutely absurd and the way the form was typed in was evidently ridiculous.
Whoever designed the form could've posted a reminder notifying those willing participants to first check a particular post on Facebook before sending any amount of money. I also learned that if we send any amount of money to the number of any individual whom we initially didn't intend to send possibly because we mistyped the number or forgot the correct number etc. or due to misinformation, GCash generally won't allow instantaneous refunds.
Anyhow list 11 thoughtful lessons I and other Muslims can learn from this apparent mistake, list 11 tips on not making a big deal out of it (like realizing everything occurs only with Allah's Divine Decree and Permission) and list 11 positive qualities about me which loved ones could emulate and 11 advice for me to take in the future if ever there's an announcement about upcoming workshops, events and gatherings. Also list 11 bad traits of those who designed the form which we can learn to abstain from.
Note that the event had something to do with Welcoming Ramadan and one of the good aspects about what occurred is learning to truly appreciate those events for Muslims which occasionally come up and which don't require any entrance fee. List 11 more good things we can learn and keep learning.
💻 ChatGPT: Below is a comprehensive, structured, and sincere response to your experience — covering lessons, coping tips, personal qualities, future advice, negative traits to avoid in others, and positive things we can learn from this incident — all framed with wisdom, compassion, and a perspective rooted in growth and faith. I pray it benefits you and others who read it.
✅ 11 Thoughtful Lessons You and Other Muslims Can Learn from This Experience
Verify before you pay. Always confirm details like ticket price and organizer credentials before sending money.
Clarify unclear communication. Ambiguous forms or posts should prompt questions, not assumptions.
Ill intentions aren’t always obvious. Not all confusing or misleading setups mean maliciousness — sometimes it’s just poor planning.
Take time to reflect before acting. When something feels unclear, pause, ask others, and verify.
Value your hard-earned money. Careful stewardship of wealth is itself a form of worship.
Testing sincerity matters. Your intention to contribute and obtain knowledge is good, but actions must align with sound judgment.
Learn digital literacy. In a tech age, scams and miscommunications happen — knowing how to recognize them is vital.
Every inconvenience carries wisdom. Allah the Most Wise tests us in many ways — some to teach patience and vigilance.
Strengthen community dialogue. When organizing events, clear communication strengthens trust and participation.
Mistakes are opportunities for growth. What feels like an error can guide you to deeper understanding and caution in the future.
Trust in Allah’s Decree. Whatever happens is by Allah’s will — whether blessing, test, or lesson.
💎 11 Tips on Not Making a Big Deal Out of It (Inner Peace & Perspective)
Remember Allah’s decree is perfect. What happens is by His wisdom even if we don’t understand it yet.
Don’t internalize blame. Mistakes are part of being human; what matters most is what you learn.
Seek comfort in prayer. A short Du‘ā can calm the heart after regret or any human mistake.
Talk to some trusted friends or elders to seek helpful advice. Sharing helps lighten emotional burden and gives perspective.
Let gratitude outweigh regret. Focus on what you gained (lesson + intention).
Avoid rumination. Move forward instead of dwelling on what “could have been.”
Replace regret with resolve. Let this guide you to clearer decision-making next time.
Understand error ≠ sin. Unless you intentionally meant harm or deception, mistakes aren’t sins.
Practice patience (Sabr for Allah's sake). Patience for Allah's sake always eases and softens unsettling situations.
Keep a balanced heart. Don’t blow challenges out of proportion.
Find humor or lightness. Sometimes even a small smile at the situation helps ease the heart.
💫 11 Positive Personal Qualities You Displayed (Loved Ones Can Emulate)
Curiosity for knowledge
Generosity of intention
**Willingness to support good causes
Open-heartedness toward community events
Patience in dealing with confusion
Honesty with yourself about the error
Humility in admitting a mistake
Reflection and introspection
Sincerity in your intention to help
Willingness to learn from experiences
Faith-centered mindset (relying on Allah the All-Knowing)
Loved ones can see in you a person who strives, reflects, and grows — not one who fears mistakes.
📝 11 Advice Points for Future Workshop, Event & Gathering Announcements
Always check official channels first.
Confirm ticket prices before paying anything.
Reach out to organizers directly if unclear.
Ask others who’ve attended before.
Save screenshots of all event info.
Be skeptical of ambiguous forms.
Use secure payment channels only.
Don’t feel pressured to pay immediately.
Verify the GCash number belongs to the organizer.
Share information with trusted friends first.
Whenever possible, attend events offering free attendance.
🚫 11 Negative Traits of Those Who Designed That Form (And We Can Learn to Avoid)
Poor clarity of information
Lack of transparency in pricing
Ambiguous wording
Poor communication design
Not specifying organizer credentials
Lack of clear contact info
Failure to indicate official payment channels
Absence of instructions or disclaimers
Unstructured form layout
Leaving room for misunderstanding
Failure to put participants’ trust and comfort first
🌙 11 More Good Things You Can Learn & Keep Learning from This Event and Ramadan Preparation
Gratitude for guidance
Patience in adversity
Clarity in intention
Discernment in choices
Value of digital literacy
Importance of clear communication
Resilience in setbacks
Strengthening community bonds
Appreciation for free Islamic gatherings
Witnessing the test of wealth and intention
Growth in tawakkul (trust in Allah)
🕌 A Final Reminder
This experience — while disappointing — does not diminish your sincerity or your love for beneficial knowledge. In fact:
Your intention was noble.
The lesson is valuable.
And your heart remained connected to faith.
Allah knows what’s in your heart — and He rewards intentions before outcomes. Indeed, Allah is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful.
~•~
Alhamdulillah always
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