Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Bismillahir- Rahmanir-Rahim
1. Opening
Friends who are blessed by Allah, Have you ever imagined having to walk alone in a dense wilderness at night without carrying any light at all? Around us are deep pits, snakes ready to strike, hidden scorpions, and other unseen dangers. We would surely be overcome with overwhelming fear, trembling, and every step would feel like a gamble with our lives. But imagine, in that same forest, you are holding a very bright flashlight. Instantly, the fear vanishes. You can see clearly where the pits are, where the snake is moving, and where the scorpion hides. You can walk calmly, safely, and with full confidence. That is the function of the Lantern of Faith in our lives. Psychologically, peace of mind [psychological well-being] is not gained from the absence of problems in this world, but from the clarity of our perspective on those problems. This world is, in essence, a “dark jungle” full of trials, slander, and temptation. Without wise faith, humans easily become stressed, lost, and trapped in the pit of despair. Faith acts as a “flashlight” that gives insight [baṣīrah] to our hearts.
Allah SWT says about the beauty of this light of faith:
اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ
“Allah is the Protector of those who believe; He brings them out from darkness into light.”[QS. Al-Baqarah: 257]
When the lantern of faith is lit in the chest, a believer will never feel lonely or afraid facing the darkness of life’s trials. Rasulullah ﷺ also affirmed how beautiful the condition of a believer is whose life is always illuminated by the light of faith, in his saying:
عَجَبًا لِأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ خَيْرٌ
“How amazing is the affair of the believer; all his affairs are good for him.”[HR. Muslim]
2. Lessons and Message
Let us take a look inside a hospital room. There is a mother who has just lost her only child to a severe illness. Humanly, her heart is shattered and her tears pour uncontrollably. How heartbreaking to see the empty space her child left behind. Yet, because there is a “Lantern of Faith” burning brightly in this mother’s chest, amid her heartbreaking sobs, she whispers softly, “Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn… O Allah, this child was Your trust. You took him because You love him more than I do. Deposit the reward of my patience for me in Your Paradise.”Faith does not stop her tears from falling, but faith saves her soul from also being destroyed and blaming Allah’s decree. Truly a scene that is both moving and elevates human dignity.
Now, so we understand how much a person loses by not turning on his flashlight of faith, let us make a slightly funny analogy. Imagine Dehdoh, who recklessly goes for a walk in a dark forest without a flashlight because he feels “brave.” Along the way, his foot trips over a tree root, and he tumbles into the bushes. As his hand gropes the ground in the darkness, he grabs something long, slippery, and cold. Because it is dark and his mind starts wandering, Dehdoh immediately screams hysterically, “Help!! A giant cobra is about to coil around me! I’m finished!” He cries all night, shaking, and recites every prayer he knows—even getting them wrong. When dawn arrives and the sun begins to shine… guess what he had been holding all night? Turns out it was just the neighbor’s water hose that had come loose! Funny yet pitiful, isn’t it? That is exactly like a person who lives without the lantern of faith. A small problem in life—like being mocked or having provision slightly delayed—is immediately seen as a “monster” out to destroy his life. They are stressed and depressed not because the problem is big, but because they are “groping in the darkness” without the light of faith!
3. Conclusion & Closing
Friends, the highest moral message from this lantern of faith is: we cannot ask the world to always be bright and kind to us. Trials, problem-pits, and the “snakes” of slander will always exist along the path of life. So, do not focus on changing the path of the jungle, but focus on making sure the battery of our faith-flashlight never runs out. Nurture that faith with focused prayer, consistent remembrance [dhikr], and attending gatherings of knowledge. With faith burning bright, we will be able to detect inner dangers—like arrogance, envy, and malice—and walk calmly until we arrive safely at our final destination: Allah’s Paradise
. والله أعلم بالصواب
الحمد لله رب العالمين
Wassalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
Abu Sultan Al-Qadrie
