READY TO RESPOND EVERY MOMENT
God Almighty created man and declared that He would help him in every aspect and would be with him, in every situation. There are many verses in the Quran which describe this fact. One such verse of the Quran is as follows:
All those who are in the heavens and the earth ask of Him; every day He is in a state. Which then of the bounties of your Lord will you deny? (55:29-30)
This verse addresses man. Man is the concern of God and God Almighty is ready to respond to man at all times. The following hadith further illustrates the meaning of the above-mentioned verse of the Quran:
Prophet of Islam said, “Every moment God is ready to forgive one who seeks forgiveness from Him, is ready to help one who seeks help from Him and is ready to respond to one who calls upon Him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1145)
How can we enable ourselves to find this ever-available help of God? It is by using every event in your life as a point of reference. Our world is full of points of reference, provided you are awakened enough to recognize them. Every observation and learning can serve as a point of reference to instantly establish contact with God and seek His blessings. By following this method, you would be able to receive divine blessings every moment. For example, when you undergo hurtful experience in life, you can make it a point of reference and pray to God to save you from the hurtful experience of the eternal life in the world hereafter. Similarly, when you receive comfort in life, you can make it a point of reference and pray to God to provide you comfort in the eternal life.
We are living in a world where every moment we are distracted and fail to continually remember God. How should we overcome this weakness? How should we continue to live in the remembrance of God? This continuity can be maintained only by engaging in intellectual effort on a constant basis.
When you receive comfort in life, you can make it a point of reference and pray to God to provide you comfort in the eternal life.
Our mind is like a mobile phone. A mobile phone becomes inactive when its battery exhausts and so we need to recharge it. The same is true of our mind. Our mind also needs to be recharged, again and again. This is the only way to continue to inculcate divine awareness, every day and night.
For example, when you are reading this article, you are using your mind, your eyes as well as the external light—sunlight or electric light. All these things were not created by you, but are supplied by God Almighty alone. Remember this divine bounty and present your gratefulness to God. This is acknowledgement and acknowledgement is what makes you a deserving of receiving further bounties. This is mentioned in the chapter Ibrahim (Abraham) of the Quran in these words:
Remember the time when your Lord declared, “If you are grateful, I will surely bestow more favours on you; but if you are ungrateful, then know that My punishment is severe indeed.” (14:7)
This is God’s promise to man and God never betrays His promise.