Struggles

A man, whilst gardening found a cocoon of a butterfly under a leaf of a tree. He decided to monitor it for a few days, one day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for a few hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had got as far as it could, and it could go no further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shrivelled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly, expecting its wings to enlarge and the butterfly to take its first flight. Neither happened!

In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shrivelled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were Allah’s (S.W.T) way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If Allah (S.W.T) allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, we would not grow. It would cripple us, as it did the butterfly. Imagine never having to struggle, never dealing with adversity or problems. It sounds lovely at first glance, but upon closer speculation, there would be many consequences. We would not develop the qualities and characteristics that are necessary for a full and rewarding life.

Struggle doesn’t come to destroy us, but helps us to realise our hidden potentials.

Hikmat (Wisdom) of Allah (S.W.T)

I asked for Strength.... And Allah (S.W.T) gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom.... And Allah (S.W.T) gave me Problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity.. And Allah (S.W.T) gave me Brain and Brawn (power) to work.

I asked for Courage... And Allah (S.W.T) gave me Danger to overcome.

I asked for Love........ And Allah (S.W.T) gave me Troubled people to help.

I asked for Favours... And Allah (S.W.T) gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted ..... I received everything I needed!