Allah (swt) has charcterised every relationship, situation and action such that there’s a method for coping with every hurdle. This may sound unrealistic and far too idealistic but in my opinion, the choices are only two – live life according to the law of man, who’s only pupose is self gratification or abide by divine law, where not only man’s reality has been accounted for, but also the realities beyond, which we have no perception of.

I’ve had the privilege of working with the elderly, the terminally ill, the severely disabled, those in poverty… and I’m humbled more and more every time.

I was in a day centre for the elderly with dementia. The group were made to take part in music therapy and as the woman next to me aimlessly tapped her tambourine, she muttered the same phrase over and over ‘What’s the point of me being here? I’m just waiting to die.’ As she kept repeating the words in time to the beat, the poignancy of the refrain became painful.

Contrast this to the view of a Muslim brother in a respite home. He was in his twenties and severely disabled with multiple disorders and limited communication. A care worker asked him how on earth he copes with life and using his communication aid he managed to say ‘It’s Allah (swt)’s will and my goal is Jannah.’ SubhanAllah! May he be granted that destiny.

So viewed in the context of Allah (swt)’s system, life can never become too much.

The reality is that we all face the same fate as the terminally ill patient.

Except for the Muslims, there’s a difference – the ‘terminally’ can be removed. We’ve been blessed with the cure, as has the whole of mankind.