What is joy?  Can you define happiness? Measure it? Can you assign it an absolute value?

No.

Can you find real happiness in wealth, estates and other luxuries appealing to the senses?

No.

For a few days now, my extended family was deeply concerned and worried regarding the health of a much-loved member, my maternal aunt. Out of the blue, we were told she had been diagnosed by a condition, the name of which many equate only with dismal pictures of health… cancer. It was striking how such news could affect so many peoples’ lives, in such different ways. Suddenly, nothing seemed really pleasureable and alongside, advice on how best to tackle the situation started pouring in. Being separated from the rest of us by the whole world, really, you can imagine her – and our – feelings at not being able to share her burdens. Telephone calls kept the messages of wellwishing and hope connected with one another.

The true gravity of the situation was assessed by conducting further standard tests. Not knowing what to expect but hoping for the best, my mother enquired about the results. Alhamdolillah, the results turned out to be very positive for her and even though she’ll have to go through surgery to remove the cancer, then chemotherapy to truly eradicate it, the news was sooooo good Alhamdolillah! Hearing my aunt’s electrified and easy voice over the telephone, indicative of her being back to her old self where spirits were concerned, I felt real, pure, wholesome joy overtake me! My mother was smiling, laughing… it was like Eid all over again!

This is a kind of happiness that you could spend your life in search of it, exhaust all your resources, and yet never be able to recognize its fragrance, let along experience it. The relief and joy that comes from knowing your family is safe has no measure. The little stresses and tensions of our routine that bug us throughout the day suddenly fade away and you find yourself in such happy spirits that nothing seems too difficult. Alhamdolillah… for letting us taste such joys in our lives. Perhaps they are “trailers” and “samples” pointing to the kind of joy that lies in wait of the Believers in Heaven – Allah knows best!

May Allah lighten up our lives with joy and happiness and make our families the “coolness of our eyes” , both in this world and the Hereafter indeed. Ameen!

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اللَّهُمَّ لا سَهْلَ إلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلاً وَ إنْتَ تَحْعَلُ الْحزْنَ إذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلاً

O Allah, there is nothing easy except what You make easy, and You make the difficult easy if it be Your Will.
[Ibn Hibban, ibn as-Sunni]

I’ve been very busy lately, with various activities and commitments. My university switched over to semester system in March and we have our first semester finals in June, preparation for which is in full swing, Alhamdolillah. One very important thing that I’m becoming increasingly aware of – and amazed by – as I delve deeper into my medical books, is the immensely intricate and absolutely beautiful system that is at work in our bodies.

These days, I’m going through a chapter in Pathology (Pathology = literally, the study of diseases) that explains the processes underlying the development of Neoplasias or tumors/cancers. The book describes how cells normally are regulated within very strict cycles of life, with constant quality contol to ensure mutations (leading to unlimited cell multipilication – cancer) do not arise or go unnoticed. SubhanAllah, there are so many different genes and gene-products working round the clock to ensure cells stay in line! And there are so many different points where things could go wrong were it not for the constant ‘policing’ by regulatory genes and enzymes. Imagine this for instance – as the cells prepare to divide, they make copies of their DNA for the daughter cells to receive. This DNA, during the copy-process, naturally incurs some breaks, some missing parts, etc. and if it were left like that, we’d be unable to exist as we do today. The accumulation of such potentially lethal or even carcinogenic (cancer-causing) changes/mutations would make life impossible – or make grossly distorted and dysfunctional bodies an inevitable occurence. Instead, repair and analytical enzymes put the DNA through strict testing measures. If repair is possible, it is done but if it is not possible, these regulatory mechanisms activate certain “suicide” genes which activate cell-shut down mechanisms, to prevent the mutated DNA from proceeding into further daughter cells! SubhanAllah!

Could we have ever imagined all this could be going on inside our bodies? Even as you read this, your cells are constantly at work like a super factory, where each departments and each process is playing its role to sustain your life, without your having to tell them to do so! Amazing isn’t it? And I’ve only introduced you to the tip of the iceberg! The specific genes, enzymes, receptors, nuclear transciption factors, growth factors and checkpoint molecules, as we discover them with each passing day, are impossible to describe here. Researchers are wow-ed over and completely taken in by what they discover. Only a scientist will tell you with conviction that all this, just one part of the great complexity that we call ‘nature’, is not something to take lightly. We’re dealing with intelligence at levels we cannot even comprehend!

“Soon, We will show them Our signs in the universe, and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the truth! Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is Witness over all things?

Verily! They are in doubt concerning the Meeting with their Lord? Verily! It is He who is surrounding all things!”

Quran: Surah Fussilat (Chapter 41): Verse 53-54

Everytime I read something about such intricate processes in nature, it only makes me realize that all of these beautiful systems did not arise by ‘accident’. They were designed and guided into this evolving system by the One Creator – the One Who Created man the first time, the One Who gives life to all living things… the One Who created you and I! And all of this did not happen without a purpose.The core of all this is that we recognize the Beauty and Superiority (in all power and attributes) of Allah (swt)! And that we be grateful to Him with all sincereity, obey His commands and follow the lifestyle He designed for us, that meets our every need perfectly. Would not the Creator be aware of the best ‘Instruction manual‘?

All thanks and praise be to Allah, who made me so perfect and protects me from harm, even within my own self!

“…It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah…”

Quran: Surah Faatir (Chapter 25): Verse 38