"O IBRAHIM! WHERE are you going? Are you going to leave us in this valley where there is neither human nor living creature?" Hajar repeated. But Ibrahim (as) did not answer. Finally, she asked him: "Has Allah commanded you to do so?" He answered: "Yes." "Then He will not neglect us!" At that point, she could not have possibly imagined where her decision would lead. But she put her trust in Allah ﷻ. After all, can anything but good come from submitting to Allah ﷻ? It wasn't easy. A lone woman with a baby in her arms in the harsh desert valley. She soon ran out of food and water. With the child crying in distress, she ran desperately between al Safa and al Marwa looking for help. Help came most unexpectedly. Who would have thought that through her obedience, Allah’s ﷻ plan would be achieved? Zam Zam was created at the feet of the baby Ismael (as). That endless supply of water in the barren desert drew people and so Makkah came into being. In that city, years later, the Ka'bah was built by Ibrahim (as) and Ismael (as) and the first call for the Hajj was made. And in that city, hundreds of years later their descendent, Muhammad ﷺ, would receive Revelation that would change the world forever. The reward for Hajar? First, a mention in the darood of every salah as one who is of the family of Ibrahim (as). Second, remembrance in the sa'i of Hajj and umrah, for all to follow till the Day of Judgement. But what if Hajar had not submitted and had not put her trust in Allah ﷻ? What if she had told Ibrahim (as): “This is madness! You can't leave us here to die. There is nothing here. This is too difficult. I'm not staying!” What if she hadn’t been so determined to sustain her son, running desperately from one hill to the other? What if she had just given up? What if she had not said zam zam, stop stop, so that the gushing water formed a well? The story would have been very different. A lesson. We all have a part to play in Allah’s ﷻ plan. But it only starts when we choose to obey Allah ﷻ even though we might not see where it leads. We must trust that if we do something or leave something for the sake of Allah ﷻ, then whatever happens, as a result, is best for us. Is it possible that He who is al-Aleem (all Knowing), ar-Razzak (all Providing/Sustaining), al-Ghaniy (all Rich and Independent), and al-Qawee (all Powerful) will not assist us if we do something for Him? Never! When Allah asks us to do difficult things, like telling the truth or letting go of what we love, it's never to harm us. It's always to help us grow and get closer to Him. Allah never asks us to do something without good reason, and He always sees the bigger picture even though we cannot. Ibrahim (as) consistently showed this trust in Allah's plan, no matter how difficult the challenges. He stood for the truth against his people's idolatry even when it got him thrown into the fire, left Hajar and his baby in the desert, and was willing to sacrifice his son Ismael (as) at Allah's command. Each time, Allah supported him because he trusted in Allah's plan. Look at the example of the mother of Musa (as). Who in their right mind would set a baby out in a box into the Nile? Yet her submission set in motion a chain of events that led to the fall of Pharaoh and the freedom of Bani Isra'il. All part of Allah’s ﷻ plan. Or take the example of the Muslims who emigrated to Abyssinia. When the Quraysh sought their return from Nejashi, the Muslims found themselves in grave danger. Displease the king and torture or death at the hands of the Quraysh was certain. Yet in that pressured situation, they all decided to say the truth: "By Allah, we will say what our Prophet ﷺ taught us and commanded.” An approach that brought them security and left the Quraysh empty-handed. The reward of accepting and persevering on Allah’s commands in any and every situation can only be Allah’s ﷻ pleasure and elevation in both the dunya and the akhirah. So, it could be insisting that we can pray the Friday prayer at school or work. Or fasting before the exams. Or wearing the hijab. Or avoiding interest/riba and haram earnings. Or speaking the word of truth against the gen*cide in G*za despite the hostility. Or calling for the re-establishment of Islam's political system, the Khil*fah Rashida, to unite the Muslim world. All this and more... All of these are difficult. But consider the greater plan Allah ﷻ has for us and what we too could set into motion. وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ 'And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is al-Qawee (All Powerful) and Aziz (Exalted in Might).' (al Hajj 40)