Venue: Logan Hall, Institute of Education, Russell Square, London

Winter 2014

Mending Our Past

Yasmin Mogahed
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This document is a write-up of notes I made whilst attending a lecture entitled
Mending Our Past by Yasmin Mogahed at the Institute of Education, London.
I have added to the notes to further understand the take away messages of the
lecture. They may be subject to mistakes and do not represent the views of the
speaker.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The title of the talk is intriguing as it clearly indicates that there will always be
something in our past that needs mending. It highlights that we have all made
mistakes, those which are apparent and those which we ourselves know not of.
But this is the very nature of the human being and the very nature of Dunya.
Dunya was meant to be a preparation it was created and designed that way.
Dunya is a purification process by which we try to purify ourselves of evil and
wrongdoings that our own hands have earned. Similarly Allah puts us through
tests and fitna, hardships and struggle; out of His love for us, to purify us of our
sins and save us from the punishment that shall come to us because of our
mistakes and evil deeds.
The key to being able to get though hardships in life is to know that Allah loves
you and if Allah loves you, He would never hurt you. never! And thus when you
are afflicted with pain and suffering and hardship know that this is Allahs love
for you. Allah is wishing to purify you, to test you - to raise your ranks in Jannah
or to give you suffering in this Dunya because of your sins such to save you from
a greater punishment in the Hereafter.
When Allah wills good for His slave, He hastens the punishment for him in
this world, and when Allah wills ill for His slave, he withholds the
punishment for his sins from him until he comes with all his sins on the Day
of Resurrection. Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396)
The purification process itself is a struggle Life is a struggle. It requires that
you have focus; that you train yourself, build yourself and purify yourself to
obtain excellence in character and standing before Your Creator. It is about
striving for excellence Ihsan ; which by its very nature implies having to
overcome hardship and loss.

Venue: Logan Hall, Institute of Education, Russell Square, London

Winter 2014

Allah, in the Quran, describes the purpose of hardship as Tamhees - the same
word is used to purify gold. Thus without extreme heat the impurities of gold are
not removed and such is the similitude with the believer.
The focus that we mention is that of Jannah. That is our home, the home of our
father Adam and the true success of this life.
The two main types of disorders psychologist have to deal with are: Anxiety
Disorders and Depression Disorders. Yet Allah makes mention that those who
follow Allah guidance should have no fear and no shall they grieve for they have
trust in Allah and know that Allah loves them and would never hurt them
nothing afflicts you except it is good for you and a means of Allah wanting you to
return to Him in dua and in a state of humbleness and submission.
Every human has a void in their heart some people try to fill it by going to the
nightclub, watching movies and things on the Internet, listening to music or even
just by daydreaming. Yet Allah makes mention that only in His remembrance will
hearts find contentment true sakina. And those who have tasted that sakina
when making dua with tears flowing or in sujood will testify to the truth of
Allahs statement.
The hadith makes mention
How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and
this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him,
he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to
him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him. (Narrated by
Muslim, 2999)
Thus even if a bad thing afflict a believer it is good for you its just a matter of
perspective. In fact, a believer should be happy when a calamity afflicts him:
The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allaah loves a
people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever
is discontent with that earns His wrath. Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396)
and Ibn Maajah (4031)
How else can Allah raise your ranks in Jannah without having to test you again
and again to see how much you trust in Him.
Al-Hasan al-Basri said: Do not resent the calamities that come and the
disasters that occur, for perhaps in something that you dislike will be your
salvation, and perhaps in something that you prefer will be your doom.
If for example, Allah does not will for you to get a certain job or marry a certain
person or even restricts your wealth and rizq it may be better for you. Out of
Allahs wisdom, it may be that had He have given you what you asked you would
have become arrogant or thought yourself self-sufficient and thus become

Venue: Logan Hall, Institute of Education, Russell Square, London

Winter 2014

ungrateful distancing yourself from Allah. Thus Allah may sometimes restrict a
person knowing that it is better for Him in the Hereafter.
This highlights a concept, which is difficult for many people to understand. Allah
may give you good in the form of a loss or rather what you would perceive to
be a loss.
Thus it is recognizing that it is in fact a manifestation of Allahs love and Him
wanting to increase you in the Hereafter through trials and tribulation, hardship
and ease.
It is therefore not about what Allah will test you with and how that will come
about - It is a question of when Allah tests you, how will you react? Will you see it
as an opportunity, a chance to rise in ranks in Jannah and chance to have your
sins forgiven?
Al-Fadl ibn Sahl said: There is a blessing in calamity that the wise man
should not ignore, for it erases sins, gives one the opportunity to attain the
reward for patience, dispels negligence, reminds one of blessings at the
time of health, calls one to repent and encourages one to give charity.
Through calamity the believer seeks reward, and there is no way to attain
it but patience, and there is no way to be patient except with resolute faith
and strong will.
Muslim (918) narrated that Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with
her) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) say: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) say: There is no Muslim who is stricken with a
calamity and says what Allaah has enjoined Verily to Allaah we belong
and unto Him is our return. O Allaah, reward me for my affliction and
compensate me with something better but Allaah will compensate him
with something better.
Forgiveness is best when someone has wronged you. This was the case with Abu
Bakr who was financial supporting a relative until he had knowledge that this
relative was complicit in spreading rumours about his daughter Aisha and the
accusation of adultery. In hearing this, he discontinued the financial support
until Allah revealed a verse:

Translation - And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to
give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of

Venue: Logan Hall, Institute of Education, Russell Square, London

Winter 2014

Allah, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should
forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful
Thus we learn from this not to hold grudges against people, not to hold people
accountable for what they may have done to harm you for this is the best
chance to gain Allahs forgiveness.
One of the best ways to gain Allahs forgiveness is to forgive those who have
wronged you. It is an opportunity that could take you to Jannah and so never let
it go.
Whenever you have the chance to forgive someone do so, and know that Allah
will indeed forgive you. What a bargain! Forgive a persons ill treatment towards
you and Allah will forgive you. Cover up the sins of your fellow Muslims
Somebody being rude to you is actually good for you. Someone annoying you is
actually good for you. Somebody wronging you is actually good for you; as it is a
chance to practice sabr and an opportunity to gain Allahs forgiveness - should
you choose to overlook peoples rudeness and bad behavior.
Allah says:
Verily the patient will get their reward without it being estimated, without
it being calculated. It cant be counted. One is waiting for reward, for that
one who is patient. Surah Az-Zumar

We all need to hold fast onto the rope of Allah meaning maintaining dhikr.
Maintaining constant remembrance of Allah and the foremost of this dhikr is to
pray Salah.
Salah is oxygen, you cant live without oxygen, you cant move with oxygen.
Likewise, never give up Salah.
Good day or bad day You have to breath you have to pray Salah

Reference:
Some hadiths taken from:
http://islamqa.info/en/71236