By Mumtaz Saley

Nothing was going as planned today, Mohammed was at home, sick with the flu, Amina was miserable as she too seemed to be getting ill, Ahmed had gone to work but had been complaining about feeling under the weather too. I baked and well, that too just flopped!

Just as I was ready to pack it all in, Uncle Abdul appeared. He gave me that knowing look and asked me to sit down with him for a bit.

“You know Sabreen, you’re feeling overwhelmed because your plans have not gone according to how you wanted but understand that you’re not perfect and not everything can be planned. Sometimes you may plan on baking the best cake and it turns out all wrong. That’s because Allah has planned otherwise and only He knows the reason. You don’t need to be discouraged. Just remember that you are not perfect and that we may plan but Allah is the best of planners. Questioning Allah won’t get your answers. Simply remind yourself that what is meant to be will be. That, my child, is qadr.”

After our chat, I decided that I would spend time with Amina and we proceeded to have a pretend tea party in the garden. Ahmed had come home early and was resting with Mohammed. Amina was loving having me all to herself and soon the frustration evaporated and my and disastrous day ended.

We plan and Allah plans better as He is the best of planners.

It’s okay when things don’t go according to plan, just breathe, take a moment and let Allah take over. We just need to place our focus on something else.

Maybe you need to be spending time with family, creating memories, maybe we should be helping someone who needs the assistance or maybe we just need to sit quietly pondering on Allah and His bounties.

As a mother, wife and daughter-in-law, my natural instinct is to try my best to keep everyone happy and I seldom take a moment for myself. Women, in particular, need to understand that we shoulder much responsibility and our wellbeing is important – Rabbatul bayt.