am asking seriously and rhetorically. What does it mean when we can't
fall back on self-pity? What does it mean when we are no longer
allowed to view ourselves as flawed?
What does it mean when we have to accept that we can achieve any
"crazy dream" that may smolder in our hearts? What does itmean when we
look at ourselves in the mirror andsee perfect, beautiful faces, no
matter the shape of our features? What does it mean when we realize
thatwe have within ourselves the capacity to reach the same heights of
imaan (faith) as the sahabah, or the same level of intellectual rigor
as Imam Al-Bukhari or Sheikh ibn Taymiyyah, or the same purity and
unwavering trust as Sayyidna Maryam? (may Allah be pleased withher).
Do we begin to see that they were simply human beings who acknowledged
the perfection with which Allah created them? They strove their utmost
to live up to that perfection, placing no boundaries or limitations
upon themselves. They were not extraordinary people in their creation;
they were only extraordinary becausethey accepted Allah's words and
thrust themselves utterly into theriver of the Quran (or in Maryam's
case, immersed herself completely in tawakkul [trust in Allah], and
taqwa [consciousness of Allah], allowing themselves to expand to fill
the capacity of the flawless mold that Allah created them in, and
refusing to allow themselves to be defined or demeaned by anyone
else's opinion. Nor did theyallow themselves to be mentally or
spiritually diminished or damaged by the harsh circumstances of life.
We have the same option. You, me, all of us.
You are perfect, whether you admit it or not. Go with it. Live up to
it. It's nota burden but a liberty. It is the freedom to be who Allah
put you on this earth to be. It's the freedom to dream and achieve
withoutthe chains of self-doubt or self-deprecation. It's the freedom
to accept yourself,love yourself, and allow yourself to love others
fee-sabeel-illah, in Allah's cause, and to live a full life of meaning
and worth.