Have you ever felt “thrown away”? Cast aside like
trash that is no longer valued or wanted?
It’s not a good feeling, isn't it?
Sometimes we feel this way when we’ve been rejected
by someone we love; or when we are relentlessly criticised by a spouse,
parents, family or friends. We can also feel this way when it seems like we’re
not living up to society’s expectations.
Feeling this way makes you doubt yourself, makes
you wonder if you are a worthwhile human being, if you have anything meaningful
to offer, if you are someone worthy of love and praise.
When you feel this way, you might begin to act this
way. You stop valuing yourself, and you start behaving as if you are worthless,
ugly, invisible, and unredeemable. You do things that you know are bad for you,
either because you no longer care, or you think no one else cares. Or maybe
just to fulfil the negative labels that others have put on you.
I want to tell you something very important: Allah
does not make “throw away” people. He does not create waste.
We humans do that. Increasingly in this modern
society, we manufacture cheap items that are meant to be used once then thrown
away. Disposable razors, diapers, soda bottles, packaging… hospital visitors
are given disposable gowns and gloves… Our oceans are filling up with garbage.
There is a floating plastic garbage patch in the Pacific that is the size of
Texas. It is known as the Pacific Gyre and contains 3.5 million tons of trash.
We human beings do that. We create such waste.
Allah does not do that.
Look around at what Allah has created: the oceans,
mountains, clouds and majestic trees; birds and animals from the eagle to the
elephant; the stars, sun and moon; the four seasons, each with a special
beauty; and a treasure-trove of amazing, healthy foods like olives, mangoes,
almonds, oranges…
Allah says in the Quran, Surat Al-Imran, 3:190-191:
“Indeed, in the creation of the
heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs
for those of understanding. Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or on
their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth,
[saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this in vain; exalted are You [above
such a thing]…”
Allah created nothing in vain. Nothing that He made
is disposable or worthless. Every one of His creations is precious and has a
profound purpose, from the smallest bacterium to the greatest nebula.
Everything is beautiful. Including you.
Allah did not create you to be thrown away. You are
not disposable. Whether or not you are ready to admit it, you have a profound
purpose in this life. You are priceless, beautiful, unique, redeemable, and
worthy of love. Because Allah just made you that way.
We must begin valuing ourselves according to how
Allah has valued us. Those people who would devalue us, they are not walking in
our shoes, living our reality. They’re not responsible for our souls, and we
are not responsible for theirs:
“No bearer of a burden can bear
the burden of another.” (Quran 6:164; 17:15)
If others are not responsible for us, and cannot
bear our burdens, then they have no right to value or devalue us. Allah has
given us honour; therefore our honour is with Allah, not with the people. Allah
has given us purpose; therefore our purpose is with Allah, not with the people.
Every person has a dignity and value that has been
granted by Allah. It is inherent in our makeup and cannot be taken away by
anyone. Every person is a gift. Every person is a miracle. Including you.
{ 2 comments... read them below or add one }
I seriously thought this entry is about the baby who was thrown away by its mother from the 2nd floor of a building. My eyes was all teary when I read about the news in the newspaper earlier this morning..
4 October 2011 at 08:45
CASINO, MOHEGAN RESORT & CASINO, WYNN, UNITED
Casino, MOHEGAN 춘천 출장마사지 RESORT & CASINO in 경기도 출장마사지 WYNN, UNITED STATES at 49525 US. Find reviews, hours, 강릉 출장마사지 directions, 속초 출장안마 phone number, map, 전라북도 출장안마
3 March 2022 at 16:00
Post a Comment