You don't need to be someone else to make a difference

Assalaamu’alaykum,

Allah SWT doesn't give us polished heroes as examples of people who made a difference.

They are real people, with real fear, real hesitation, real flaws... and He sends them anyway to fulfil His purpose.

A great example of this is Musa (as).

When Allah commanded him to go to Firoun, the most tyrannical ruler of his time, Musa (as) was quite terrified. He didn't immediately respond with confidence or instant self-belief that he had what it takes to get the job done, he responded with fear.

He said:

"My Lord, expand for me my breast. And ease for me my task. And untie the knot from my tongue, that they may understand my speech." (20:25-28)

When he's being asked to step up and deliver the message of Tawheed to the most "powerful" man alive, his first words to Allah aren't "I've got this."

They're "my chest feels tight and I don't even speak clearly enough for this."

For such an important task, you would imagine that someone eloquent, confident and composed would be chosen. SubhanAllah.

But Allah chose Musa (as) AND He didn't ask Musa to work on himself first. He SWT said:

"I am with you both; I hear and I see." (20:46)

And then Musa (as) left to complete his mission, with his stammer and with his fear.

The same Musa (as), chest still tight, speech still imperfect, walked into Firoun's court because he trusted that Allah's help was near to him and that he didn't need to become someone else first.

Later in the Qur'an, Firoun actually mocks him for it, playing directly on Musa's (as) fear...

"Am I not better than this nobody who can hardly express himself?" (43:52).

Imagine being publicly called out on the flaw you're most conscious of.

But SubhanAllah, I'm amazed by Musa's (as) bravery, a bravery that was undeterred by the insults and one that didn't come from first seeing his own ability to articulate precisely or with complete eloquence. He still had a stammer and fear.

But Musa (as) carried himself as he was into that confrontation and it didn't stop a single thing Allah intended to happen through him.

I feel there's a great lesson in this for us. How many times do we put something off or doubt what can be achieved because we feel we have to become someone else first?

How many times do we find ourselves saying, "I'll do this once I have more confidence... more clarity... once I sound and look like I know what I'm doing."

Many times we get caught waiting for a more finished version of us before we dare let people see the one that actually exists.

But Musa (as) showed us another way, he asked Allah for help and then took the asbab (means) despite being afraid, despite his speech impediment.

This story fills me with hope and motivation that no matter what task looms in front of us, even the one that scares us the most, the one we feel totally unprepared for, if we seek Allah's help and take steps forward just as we are, Allah can and will make the outcome successful.

And we also see in later stories how Musa (as) was changed through taking those initial bold actions... how the fear and anxiety left him and his conviction in Allah only grew stronger!

How many of us are waiting for a version of ourselves that never actually needs to come before we take a bold step?

Reflection of the Week

What is one thing you've been delaying because you think you need to become a different version of yourself first?

This week, ask Allah for His help, take one sincere step forward and trust that He can work through you exactly as you are.

Dua of the Week

اللَّهُمَّ لَا سَهْلَ إِلَّا مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلًا، وَأَنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الْحَزْنَ إِذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلًا

Allahumma la sahla illa ma ja'altahu sahlan wa anta taj'alul-hazna idha shi'ta sahla.

O Allah, there is no ease except in what You make easy, and You make difficulty easy if You will.

Allah's name of the Week

Ya Al-Wakeel (The Trustee, The Disposer of Affairs)

Ya Wakeel, grant us the courage to take action while placing our complete trust in You. Help us to move forward even when we feel afraid or unprepared and grant us hearts that rely upon You more than our own abilities, knowing that You are always enough for us.

Aameen, ya rabbal aalameen.