parable of the toy

Imagine you're a kid. A 7-year old kid.



One day you're walking in the supermarket. Why a 7-year old child would walk alone in the supermarket, i don't know, but you're walking nonetheless..and you suddenly spot your dream toy.



your heart beats fast. you've been wanting this toy since you were 4! tears of joy roll down your face..you could now buy it with the money you got from your relatives last raya. elated at your new purchase, you proudly carry it home, you want to show it to everyone. mom, dad, your big brother, even the boy next door who has a similar toy..but of course, yours is more precious.

You knock on your door. You show it to your dad, but he takes it away from you. You start getting angry at your dad, saying

'Why are you taking it from me??!!'

you're all mixed up inside..you're sad, you're furious at your dad, you want to cry, you want to hit him, you feel helpless cause after all he's your dad and you can't really fight your dad.

I'm taking this from you, he says, because you can't have it.

And it's as simple as that. Just because your dad says no.

You plead with him, please please let me have that toy

He says this is for ages 10 and up. You're only 7. Its not time for you to play with it.

You plead and beg and throw tantrums, but nothing's gonna change. You feel defeated, and you decide you just have to trust your dad..he may give it back to you or he may keep it in storage forever or he may give you another toy or he may give the toy to someone else, and that's up to him..you can only hope.

"Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children, as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment (for the disbelievers, evil-doers), and (there is) Forgiveness from Allâh and (His) Good Pleasure (for the believers, good-doers), whereas the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment."
(57:20)

Trust in Allah, and trust that if you follow his commands he will give you the best that you can hope for..

"...and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allâh knows but you do not know" (2:216)

Ya Allah, give me strength over things which you have ordained eventhough it is hard on me.