Shakirah Hunter

I am sitting in my lounge looking out at the lovely large windows overlooking the beauty that is currently Johannesburg. It is purple season and the Jacarandas are in bloom. The City which has been plagued by shortages of both water and electricity has suddenly been turned into the blooming city that just makes people want to take a picture of it all. Social media has been flooded with the most beautiful pictures. Sunny skies and gorgeous jacranda lined streets. The beauty leaves you in awe.

But suddenly – it all changes. The breathtaking beauty is totally covered , by huge gloomy clouds.
Suddenly the sunny almost lazy beauty of those Jacaranda filled streets turn to darkness. The clouds turn grey and the once blue sky now is an angry movement of lightening and thunder bolts streaking accross the sky.

In split seconds it all changes.

The thunder and lightening are spectacular ,you hear the roar fill the sky. And with it comes some much needed rain. But this split second change brings to mind and ayah of the Qur’an that is repeated quite a few times
ان كانت الا صيحة واحدة
” It was only one single shout…”

Allah speaks of the punishment of the people of the past -the absolute reality that Allah destroyed them in completion with a simple shout. There was no need for armies or massive wars- simply one single shout. As we hear the thunder and shudder at the streaks of lightening we can understand why the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) would hasten to the Musjid at the mere presence of those clouds.
He understood in totality the true power of Allah سبحانه وتعالى . He knew that it is only the mercy of Allah that keeps us safe and sound.

A minute ago I was lazying on the couch enjoying the view ,and now I jump up to close all the curtains and windows. How quickly it all changes. I began to read the Dua at the time of thunder :
اللهم لا تقتلنا بغضبك ولا تهلكنا بعذابك وعافنا قبل ذالك
” Oh Allah don’t kill is because of Your anger and do not destroy us because of Your punishment and grant us Aafiya before that”.

These words make me reflect on the uncertainty of my own ability, the reality of my inability in the face of the Qudrat of Allahسبحانه وتعالى .

The sky was alight with light and rolling with thunder and I reminded myself that Allah describes this as the tasbeeh of the thunder.
Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur’an { وَيُسَبِّحُ ٱلرَّعۡدُ بِحَمۡدِهِۦ وَٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ مِنۡ خِيفَتِهِۦ وَيُرۡسِلُ ٱلصَّوَٰعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِهَا مَن يَشَآءُ وَهُمۡ يُجَٰدِلُونَ فِي ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡمِحَالِ }
[Surah Ar-Ra`d: 13]

Nay, thunder repeateth His praises, and so do the angels, with awe: He flingeth the loud-voiced thunder-bolts, and therewith He striketh whomsoever He will.. yet these (are the men) who (dare to) dispute about Allah, with the strength of His power (supreme)!

Once again I am reminded that every Dua is a connection to Allah , a statement of total submission and testifying that we will never look to our own strength , power or ability. Like those giant thunder bolts we understand who Allah سبحانه وتعالى is and we Glorify His praises in recognition of His true might.

As the day seems to change before us , so too can our lives change in mere seconds. We may be blooming like those Jacarandas or we may be covered. In gloomy clouds. Yet our focus in every moment must be on our relationship and understanding of the total power of Allah.