Test

Life is full of surprises and lessons for those who ponder.

A month before Ramadhan, a friend confessed to me that she is in great financial difficulty as her husband's business is not bringing in much dough, bills are mounting, and meeting the demands of her growing children is challenging, to a point that she had to hock her jewelery for RM3,000 to get through the month. She had turned full-time housewife ever since her lay-off 7-8 yars ago. I listened to her, mouth agape, as she fought back tears. I've been visiting her house periodically for years now, but didn't notice her predicament as she was always cheerful and always, and always gave me something to take home when I leave. I thought everything was fine. She said she didn't tell out of respect for her husband.

My poor, beautiful friend. This is the friend whom when we were younger, always wore stylish clothes and have lots of jewellery. She is still slim and beautiful, but gone are the need for make-up, new clothes and trendy shoes. Everything she does now is for the family. She learns new skills and with these skills, she helps her husband to provide for the family. She now makes nasi lemak and kuih-muih and sells them at gerais. This is a very demading job that deprives her of sleep; she only sleeps 2 or 3 hours a day for six days straight. I worry for her health, but she says, desperate situation requires desperate measures.

But my friend is redha; she says, Allah will not test us more than we can endure. She tells me now she understands and is convinced that Allah is the ONLY provider. Every rizq is determined by Him, and Him only, not by others. Allah gives her the ilham and the strength in what she does now.

I pray to Allah she come out victorious. I have no doubt she will, one way or another.