Chapter 2 – Learning from Nature
Chapter 2 – The ocean taught me …
Have you heard, “The forgiveness of your Lord is deeper than the seven oceans …”?
Yeah, once, twice, or maybe even several times.
But, how many times did you – actually – pay heed to this factual phrase?
The oceans are deeper than any man knows and any being has ever fathomed. As for the Creator of them, His Forgiveness and Mercy are wider and deeper than the seven oceans. He has promised to forgive all your sins immediately, when you turn to Him inrepentance – be it just once! This promise remains, even if your sins feel like they’re equal to the foam of the oceans.
Ever tried to count the tiny bubbles in just a handful of foam …?
If anyone made your sin feel unforgivable, if anyone made you feel too low because of your past, or if anyone made you feel like there’s no future for you because of your mistakes – sit back and ponder awhile.
Stop any bleak thoughts. Stop the negativity. Stop right there! Take note of the famous adage: “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.”
A person’s past is what makes him or breaks him. If he refuses to learn from his mistakes, it will lead to his destruction. But if he chooses to learn from it, then well and good. It builds him. It makes him stronger and, most importantly, it teaches him things he would never have learnt elsewhere.
When it comes to the forgiveness of your Lord, we are reminded in the Qur’an, a countless number of times, about the Forgiving andEver-Compassionate Rabb we have and what He prefers doing for His servants who choose to turn to Him.
Allah says, “*Say: Oh servant who has wronged his soul, never lose hope in the mercy of Allah!*” (Surah Zumar, Chapter 39 Verse 53.)
This verse is phrased oh-so-lovingly and Our Beloved Allah assures us of His forgiveness. Millions of sins can never exhaust Allah’s Mercy. Based on one’s sincerity, there’s always hope of forgiveness for every single human.
Taubah (repentance) should be made constantly; a person must never lose hope that Allah will certainly forgive him. It is the hallmark of a loyal servant that he becomes convinced of Allah’s forgiveness after hearing His promises. Of course, he needs to make a great effort to abstain from what he knows is unlawful and thus endeavour to perform good deeds.
So, my dear reader, it is within you to take this step. It is up to you to learn from your mistakes. And, it is in you to seek forgiveness from such a loving Lord – not only because we are constantly sinning, but also because we can never be grateful enough to Him, norcan we reach perfection in worshipping Him.
Take inspiration from the ocean. It is such a mighty creation, with a Mighty Creator and mighty lessons.
“Every Saint has a past and every sinner has a future.”
Oscar Wilde
To be continued…
