Whispers of the Soul by Nadia Nizam

My daughter often asks me how I manage to rise above the hypocrites around me who have tried hard to break me. What has helped me throughout my life is the strength of my faith and my friendship with God. It feels as though He is always by my side, holding my hand. I know that He will be there for me at every step of my journey. As Allah reminds us in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286), "لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا" (Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear) . This gives me confidence that whatever happens is part of His will; He has reasons for everything in our lives. Thus, it’s important to remain calm and grateful in every situation. Believe me, I see challenges whenever people around me discourage me. When someone tries to block my path, I make sure to follow my heart. As we learn from Surah Al-Imran (3:139), "فَلَا تَهِنُوا وَتَدْعُوا إِلَى السَّلُكِ" (So do not lose hope, nor be sad). This verse encourages perseverance despite setbacks. ...

My father always taught us to be self-reliant and to never rely on anyone else's generosity. Visiting someone’s house frequently is equivalent to losing your self-worth. Perhaps because of his upbringing, I still make it a point to buy valuable gifts before visiting someone. Even a simple cup of tea at someone else's home feels like a burden to me. It seems like my father's voice follows me everywhere, reminding me of this lesson. Spending a night at anyone's house, aside from my parents, is the most uncomfortable thing for me. To this day, I haven’t been able to explain this to anyone. It feels like an intrinsic part of my nature. Meanwhile there’s a truth I’ve wrestled with, learned through more than a few bumps and bruises in life, and it’s this: opening your home to someone long-term (more than 2 weeks), no matter how much you love them, is a gamble you’ll almost always lose. I know the impulse well. That deep desire to help, to offer a safe haven to a friend in nee...