Removing the Obstacle

A qualified medical worker from India emigrated to Canada to live a
better life. This Muslim brother had a beard. He applied to many
different places for a job and was called for interviews. Though he
was highly qualified for the jobs, the interviewers hesitated to hire
him because of his beard. One by one, he was rejected from all the
companies. One interviewer actually mentioned to him indirectly that
his beard was an obstacle to getting the job. Truly, it was a big test
for him from Allah. Hopeless and exhausted, the brother decided to
remove the obstacle, which was to shave off his beard. Thenhe returned
to that company and requested for another interview. When the
interviewer saw him without a beard this time, he refused to give him
the job again. The brother became confused and asked to know the
reason. The interviewer said "If you are not faithful to your God, how
will you be faithful to us?"
This true incident was narrated to us by a friend who personally knows
this brother, however, his identity will remain private. In reality,
obeying the commandments of Allah does not bring failure. Inthe
beginning, we may face various problems, but the end results will be
very sweet. Prophet of Allah (SAW) also faced many problems in the
beginning, but in the end, he saw how hundreds and thousandsof people
turned towards Allah for his steadfastness. Ibn 'Umar,may God be
pleased with him, said: "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him
and give him peace, ordered us totrim closely the mustache and leave
the beard as it is (that is grow the beard)." (Reported in Sahih
al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.)