SubhanAllah! I was sitting amidst beautiful nature and was reflecting upon
Allah Al Khaaliq’s beautiful takhleeq (creation) around.
As I was just capturing some images, I noticed my own jilbab had a sort of thorn clung to it.
SubhanAllah! Didn’t realise that even such a tiny thorn will refresh such a beautiful incident about Umar (r.a) and taqwa.
Once Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (r.a) asked Ubay Ibn Ka’ab (r.a) about Taqwa.
Ubay said “Have you ever taken a thorny path?” Umar replied, “Yes I have.” Ubay then asked, “So how did you travel along this thorny path?” Umar replied, “I rolled up my garment and was cautious as to where I would tread to avoid being pricked by the thorns.” So Ubay responded and said, “This is Taqwa.”
SubhanAllah! Such a beautiful analogy. Taqwa is being conscious where we are heading, what path we are taking, and staying away from all thorns (things which are not liked by Allah swt).
“Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.”
Holy Quran 49:13
“Indeed, Allah loves the Muttaqeen.”
Holy Quran 3:76
SubhanAllah! When I was looking around for inspiration, it was clung right in my cloak in the form of a thorn.
Even thorns inspire us to lead a life full of consciousness of Allah Al Aleem.
I read a beautiful quote somewhere, “Don’t think the sin is smaller one, rather see The Highness of The One Who has commanded to refrain from it.”
May Allah swt make us among muttaqeen.
Ameen.