Recognizing Him

Bismillahi Rahmanir Raheem. In the name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful. Before the actual content of the Qur'an was even revealed to the Prophet and to us, the first thing that Allah wanted us to know about Himself was that He is Rahman and Raheem- Generous and Merciful. Not any other characteristic of Him, but these. And then when you look at all the creation, at how even the tiniest living creature is ensured love and mercy, you feel all the love that flows through the universe- just how blood flows through one's body. Consider how Allah just wants us to come closer to Him and to know him just so that we could live a more fulfilled and complete life. Looking at the sky is Ibadah (worship), looking at your parents face with love is Ibadah, opening the Qur'an and just looking at it is Ibadah, looking at any of Allah's creation and reflecting over it is Ibadah, smiling at another is Ibadah, moving a tiny stone from the way is Ibadah, and so many of the like... It's not just that Allah wants us to gain maximum thawaab for our hereafter, but He wants us to lead a happy and fulfilled life in this world itself also- by recognizing Him. So let's take a step closer to Him- in whatever way we think we can. Just one step. But make sure it's a sincere one. That it is taken with all our heart and all your soul. And Allah will respond, surely He will as He says in the Qur'an "Call unto me and I will answer you." "Say: If you love Allah, follow me. Allah will love you and forgive you your faults. And Allah is forgiving, merciful." Qur'an 3.31 And so I realize how silly it is for me to be scared of Sarf, and to let external events fill me with anxiety. I have ALLAH, who is Generous and Merciful and who has always helped me even in my lowest spiritual moments! So why would he leave me now when He has NEVER left my side. It's always me who has distanced myself from Him! I just have to believe- with all my heart- and REALLY REALLY believe. Like one of my friends recently said, "We make du'a but we don't really believe (or have faith) that Allah will answer us. We make du'a just for the sake of it. Out of habit." And SubhnAllah that's so true. We have all the appliances but no electricity to make them work. We have all the rituals but no faith to make them work. So. Have. Faith. O Allah, help me figure things out, to be sincere, and to avoid Riya. Let me love you more, and love me back even more. :)