staying on the path

Not to my surprise, the roads were iced over today, though Alhamdulillah some roads already received their  morning dose of salt. As I was driving along taking the kids to school, I was feeling especially grateful the other drivers were carefully driving in their lane. Anyone who has ever lived in snow can probably appreciate this feeling of gratitude.

There is usually a path right in the middle of a lane marked by the many cars which  passed before, and on the outside of those trodden paths is ice and/or snow, despite the salt applied. So going a little on the outside of the very middle of the lane can send one into the next lane, crashing into other cars, off the road, and even completely losing the entire road in adverse conditions.

And then it occurred to me that perhaps our deen is like this:  That we always have to be careful and stay in the straight path, right in the middle, not near the boundaries. Various conditions are always befalling us, but we can’t allow ourselves to slip and slide right off the path. This really might happen because sometimes we don’t even realize that we’ve gone so close to the boundaries that anything could come along and make us exceed the boundaries.

And just like a car, we’d go slip, sliding completely out of control. Where we’d spiral to is just not up to us and how or if we find our way back is just by the mercy and guidance of Allah swt.

And this path made in the middle of the lane is the path of our teachers, their teachers, all the way to the Nabi Kareem (Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam). This path was made so that we don’t lose our way. This path was made to eliminate the possibility of even going toward the boundaries of the deen. This path was made to protect us, and show us the right way.

And I am especially feeling gratitude for those who’ve previously tread this path, to make this path for me, for all of us, with their love for us, to guide us and prevent us from getting lost, from losing the path.  May Allah swt grant special treasures from his endless special treasures to all those who’ve come before us.  And send upon the Nabi Kareem special blessings and special peace, and to his family (radiyallah anhum), and the SaHaaba karaam, ajma’een.

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