Behold a recession, the crude oil scarcity is yet to hit the world.
And it looks like there is nothing that we can do to protect ourselves and our dependents from it. Numerous thoughts run through my mind right now, the predominant one being “Damn, I had wasted too much time”.
I couldn’t have anticipated that all of my time wasted would bite me in the back like this. Time that I could have used to get a headstart to run from what? The inevitable hardships that we are about to face?
Muhammadh (peace be upon him) prophesized that “There will come upon the people a time when holding onto one’s religion will be like holding onto hot coals (or embers)”
The narration is found in the Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Hadith 2260), narrated by Anas bin Malik.
This hadith is not that simple as one might think.
The time is coming where one would be forced to prioritize between saving either himself, his dependents, his neighbors, the people that one face day-to-day, whether to help others vs helping myself.
Numerous times have I looked back on selfless acts and grunt, just to think if I had been taken advantage of. That… being selfless in interacting with others, my co-workers, my “friends”, acquaintances, clients(?), customers
Although at that time, it was pleasant and satisfying to help the needy, and of course “selfless” means that one would expect nothing in return, Maybe I have been too naive. I have belittled my “self” to service others but at what cost? Maybe I should have found a middle ground that dosent necessarily end up in me sacrificing. Something that both preserves myself as well as benefits the other party. Is that too greedy? Is it a zero sum game or is there always room for maneuver?
The other extreme is disgusting to think of. Someone who only cares about himself, even at the cost of devouring his own brothers and sisters, abandoning his parents bleugh, but do people like this really live well off? Whats the point if so?
I barely have time for work and rest, with dwindling finances yet there are “commitments” that swindle me out of the very little time that I have to prepare for the future. Attention hungry predicaments that donot go away no matter how mucheffort I put into them. What I need is people?. Someone, anyone. Who can act as my double. People with the same thought process, and same goals as mine, to protect what matters most(?)
What are my goals anyway? It looks as if I am being swayed by the intents of others while my own interests are being put in the backburner… Should I have some backbone?
It looks like time is taking revenge on me for not respecting it, but how could I know?
Complaining, Complaning, Complaining… There was this one job interview I went for which was weird, One memorable thing was that the founder of the startup, told me that I might have a “blaming” problem. No one else have said that or Observed that about me. And maybe thats the issue that I have to work on.
Non-cooperative people with their own mind, are a menace disrupting any growth I am trying to bring to both them and myself.
How can I foster social capital, when I am not present in person? Is money the answer? There does not seem to be even one trustworthy individual or someone who measures upto my standards. Are the standards the issue? Have I set the bar high? I am complaining aren’t I?
One track mind…
Islam is hostile to a one track mind. It brings with itself a holistic perspective. It Always forces you to look at the big picture. If I focus on one thing, I couldn’t. I am supposed to juggle multiple things at once. But If I just do a stretch and focus I might be able to do away with one of the issues that persist among others. Yet, I am unable to focus.
I am complaining aren’t I?
We cannot prepare for everything that might come in the future. But chipping away a stone one pick at a time is all that we can do?
I need to read up on how people tackled the recession, I guess I have to start spending sparingly from now on among other things.
The will of a few malicious capitalists/fanatics brought about this doom? No, it is the will of Allah and he always stands with the believers. That is my only solace.
Islam does not allow one to become cynical. You are expected to grow on each and every trial. With repentance and turning back to Allah as starting points. Lets do that.