بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
📝 Five more lessons learned Alhamdulillah from our recent outing in Samal Island with some loved ones and sisters in Islam (not our first time going there but we don't go to Samal Island every year):
1🔹 Although I bought some drinks the night before we went to the wharf the next day, I eventually forgot to bring the beverages which I placed inside the freezer due to rushing in the morning.
✅ Lesson learned for those who generally like to think "it's okay; there's still plenty of time
Inn-sha-Allah before we go, no need to rush things.": It is a lot better to pack one's luggage the night or even the day before traveling rather than hurriedly packing prior to going out and later on discovering some items were forgotten.
2🔹 Alhamdulillah when we arrived at the wharf while waiting for the ship to arrive, one of our female students bought for me and herself bottles of water after I informed her how I forgot the cold beverages.
✅ Lesson learned: Sometimes Allah the Almighty decrees that some of His servants go through certain difficulties or they commit some mistakes so He Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala can examine your reaction - will you attempt to empathize with those human beings and do what you can to improve their situation for Allah's sake? Or will you learn from their errors and do your best to avoid copying what they did in the future? Or will you make fun of them? Or will you recall that you too aren't the only one on earth occasionally going through mishaps from time to time? What most people experience at times can be very useful lessons for us and others.
3🔹 While having lunch at the Muslim community that we visited Alhamdulillah, I recalled how I not only forgot the drinks I bought the night going to Samal Island but I also forgot to bring with me the bottles of spicy chili sauce one of which I wanted to give as a small gift to the host together with a pack of marshmello sweets which I was looking forward to giving some of the kids at the Muslim community.
✅ Lesson learned: Always strive to purify your niyyah intention to do good deeds sincerely to please Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala Only so that if ever the good deed which you eagerly intended to do is not achieved or it couldn't be completed for whatever reason, then
Inn-sha-Allah you still attain some rewards for your sincere intentions.
4🔹 I also recalled how one of my daughter's classmates accordingly forgot to carry soy sauce and limes / calamansi which were newly bought if I'm not mistaken and how I was the one making use of some soy sauce and calamansi during lunch that day (we were on the same island but the teens were at Villa Amparo resort while I visited a Muslim community). May Allah the Most Merciful again reward those Muslims who generously prepared the lunch and merienda and increase the barakah blessings in their lives always. Ameen.
✅ Lesson learned: Oftentimes in this temporary dunya / world, there will be some things with us which a number of individuals probably lack while those same individuals enjoy some things which we don't or can't have. Instead of consistently comparing yourself to others' circumstances, train yourself to patiently accept Allah's Qadr/Decree as much as you can, knowing that Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala loves it when the believers show patience for His sake, and try to stay contented. If contentment is usually challenging at first, then at least refrain from loudly complaining or negatively overthinking. Complaints are pointless if they don't come with suggested solutions to solve problems.
5🔹 I thought I could visit another sister in Islam residing somewhere around Samal Island and we could have a lengthy conversation about how to persevere for Allah's sake in marriage perhaps after visiting the Muslim community but I couldn't because I totally forgot to inform her of my arrival that time and I was willing to join the family of one of my daughter's Tausug friends who also went to Samal Island while I intended to visit the Muslim community but I went along with another group before their car arrived on the island (so many vehicles going to Samal Island on Saturdays and Sundays). Telling the mom of my daughter's friend something like:
"Yes Inn-sha-Allah I'll meet you when we arrive at Samal, don't worry" isn't clear enough if you're waiting for their car to arrive while another vehicle is waiting for you to send you to their Muslim community.
Alhamdulillah at least I'm happy that the family of my daughter's friend were able to spend some quality time at a different beach together so they can relax for that day instead of feeling obliged to answer my multitude of random questions.
Inn-sha-Allah I hope we can have another time productively spent in the future.
✅ Lesson learned: Next time Inn-sha-Allah if you're traveling or going on an outing with several groups to the same destination, it may be more efficient if all the members in each group not only have data or load on their cellphones but also they're given a list of places where they can assemble in case they wish to meet up with the others. While there should be a Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, Plan E etc. we Muslims must take note that even if we plan certain things, Allah the Most Wise controls everything in the universe and outside of the universe and He Subhaanahu wa Ta'aa always plans and destines what He Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala knows is the most ideal or most rewarding for us in both worlds.
Note: Photos shared by Zahra one of our students at Wisdom Islamic School
1🔹 Although I bought some drinks the night before we went to the wharf the next day, I eventually forgot to bring the beverages which I placed inside the freezer due to rushing in the morning.
✅ Lesson learned for those who generally like to think "it's okay; there's still plenty of time
Inn-sha-Allah before we go, no need to rush things.": It is a lot better to pack one's luggage the night or even the day before traveling rather than hurriedly packing prior to going out and later on discovering some items were forgotten.
2🔹 Alhamdulillah when we arrived at the wharf while waiting for the ship to arrive, one of our female students bought for me and herself bottles of water after I informed her how I forgot the cold beverages.
✅ Lesson learned: Sometimes Allah the Almighty decrees that some of His servants go through certain difficulties or they commit some mistakes so He Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala can examine your reaction - will you attempt to empathize with those human beings and do what you can to improve their situation for Allah's sake? Or will you learn from their errors and do your best to avoid copying what they did in the future? Or will you make fun of them? Or will you recall that you too aren't the only one on earth occasionally going through mishaps from time to time? What most people experience at times can be very useful lessons for us and others.
3🔹 While having lunch at the Muslim community that we visited Alhamdulillah, I recalled how I not only forgot the drinks I bought the night going to Samal Island but I also forgot to bring with me the bottles of spicy chili sauce one of which I wanted to give as a small gift to the host together with a pack of marshmello sweets which I was looking forward to giving some of the kids at the Muslim community.
✅ Lesson learned: Always strive to purify your niyyah intention to do good deeds sincerely to please Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala Only so that if ever the good deed which you eagerly intended to do is not achieved or it couldn't be completed for whatever reason, then
Inn-sha-Allah you still attain some rewards for your sincere intentions.
4🔹 I also recalled how one of my daughter's classmates accordingly forgot to carry soy sauce and limes / calamansi which were newly bought if I'm not mistaken and how I was the one making use of some soy sauce and calamansi during lunch that day (we were on the same island but the teens were at Villa Amparo resort while I visited a Muslim community). May Allah the Most Merciful again reward those Muslims who generously prepared the lunch and merienda and increase the barakah blessings in their lives always. Ameen.
✅ Lesson learned: Oftentimes in this temporary dunya / world, there will be some things with us which a number of individuals probably lack while those same individuals enjoy some things which we don't or can't have. Instead of consistently comparing yourself to others' circumstances, train yourself to patiently accept Allah's Qadr/Decree as much as you can, knowing that Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala loves it when the believers show patience for His sake, and try to stay contented. If contentment is usually challenging at first, then at least refrain from loudly complaining or negatively overthinking. Complaints are pointless if they don't come with suggested solutions to solve problems.
5🔹 I thought I could visit another sister in Islam residing somewhere around Samal Island and we could have a lengthy conversation about how to persevere for Allah's sake in marriage perhaps after visiting the Muslim community but I couldn't because I totally forgot to inform her of my arrival that time and I was willing to join the family of one of my daughter's Tausug friends who also went to Samal Island while I intended to visit the Muslim community but I went along with another group before their car arrived on the island (so many vehicles going to Samal Island on Saturdays and Sundays). Telling the mom of my daughter's friend something like:
"Yes Inn-sha-Allah I'll meet you when we arrive at Samal, don't worry" isn't clear enough if you're waiting for their car to arrive while another vehicle is waiting for you to send you to their Muslim community.
Alhamdulillah at least I'm happy that the family of my daughter's friend were able to spend some quality time at a different beach together so they can relax for that day instead of feeling obliged to answer my multitude of random questions.
Inn-sha-Allah I hope we can have another time productively spent in the future.
✅ Lesson learned: Next time Inn-sha-Allah if you're traveling or going on an outing with several groups to the same destination, it may be more efficient if all the members in each group not only have data or load on their cellphones but also they're given a list of places where they can assemble in case they wish to meet up with the others. While there should be a Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, Plan E etc. we Muslims must take note that even if we plan certain things, Allah the Most Wise controls everything in the universe and outside of the universe and He Subhaanahu wa Ta'aa always plans and destines what He Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala knows is the most ideal or most rewarding for us in both worlds.
Note: Photos shared by Zahra one of our students at Wisdom Islamic School
