Shakila'ti'hi and Destiny

What is shaakila’ti’hi?

قُلْ كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ عَلَىٰ شَاكِلَتِهِ فَرَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ هُوَ أَهْدَىٰ سَبِيلًا

[ الإسراء: 84]

Say (O Muhammad S.A.W. to mankind): "Each one does according to Shakilatihi … and your Lord knows best of him whose path (religion, etc.) is right." (Muhammad Taqiud-Din alHilali)

The word shakilati’hi has been decoded to mean many things. Some of the most recurring translations are someone’s:

·       own way

·       manner

·       religion

·       intentions

·       own disposition

·       personality

The word in itself has roots in ‘sheen-kaaf-laam’.  Similar word ‘shakal’ is used in Persian and Urdu, literally meaning ‘shape’ or ‘form’.

What does that mean in context of the ayah above?...let’s do a little tadabbur!

Anything that shapes a human being can be put in the category of sakilati’hi. In addition to the factors listed above, it can include any number of factors from a human’s physical capacities, genetic makeup, ailments etc. to immediate family, friends, society, country, gender, race, religion, tests, blessings, education, intellectual capacities, opportunities and so on.

Spend a couple of minutes thinking about all the factors above. Think of ALL these for your reality.

We all have been shaped by all these factors and more. We are who we are and do what we do how we do it, because of these factors. Our brains and responses to situations are literally shaped by our experiences along with ingrained personality traits we are endowed with by Allah SWT.

SubhanAllah!

Allah SWT is acknowledging our uniqueness and is freeing us from the deadly plague of comparison that is rotting our mental health individually and collectively.

Why would I want to compare myself to someone’s life when theirs is a completely unique path and I will not be judged by their life and choices? Allah has chosen a specific path for me and a completely different path for you. Our paths might cross at a certain point but even then, no one has lived the life you have or is a person that you are!

Most of what has been given to me is not identical to anyone else. Most of what I have as an individual is unlike anyone else! 100% of my life and my Shakila is unique to me by the beauty and grace of Allah SWT!

Why?

Because I am meant to serve a different purpose in this world and so do you. Simple, isn’t it?!

Importantly, no one has the right or capability to judge you but Allah. He is telling us through our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.) that The All-knowing is the only one to judge us judiciously because only He knows what our story is inside-out-with all the complexities, experiences, mental and physical capacities and everything in between. All other creations might know chunks of your story but no one knows it in full. So, on the day of judgement, He will decide who was on the right path, no other judgement means anything.

How reassuring is the fact that you are not expected to do anything that you don’t have the basic capacity for. You are not required, expected or meant to be/do what is against your Shakila!

How much clearer do we need the signs from our Creator to be?

Allah indeed told us everything we need to know in pure simple words and now it’s up to us to act accordingly.

Here’s the twist, though…

You will be judged according to your Shaakila…well…what’s the twist?

We are also responsible and answerable for our capabilities, exposure, knowledge and resources.

How are we using what has been given to us?

Are you naturally good at writing?...what are you writing about?...worst yet, are you writing at all or simply wasting your resources?

Are you a good listener?...what are you listening to?...are you listening to something meaningful?

Are you courageous?...where have you been courageous?...where are you needed to be courageous?

Do you have spare time?...(this includes time spent on social media and entertainment)…what are you filling that time with?

Do you have a knack for numbers?...what are you calculating?

Are you naturally excellent at memorizing things?...what are you memorizing and how are you planning on using it?

And then…The most important question of all…WHY??

Why are you doing what you are doing????

Give it a couple of minutes…think about it…are you doing life because everyone is?...spending resources (time, money, capabilities) like everyone is?...Man, do I have news for you!

You were never meant to!

Allah didn’t make you like anyone else…didn’t write your story like anyone else’s…why do you insist on being like anyone or everyone else???

I am not saying that you ditch everything, pack your bags and go out into the wilderness by yourself to find out your ‘why’?...quite the opposite actually…be present…get out of the transitive state to really think!...the dopamine rush you are getting from mindless scrolling is nothing compared to the rush and high of doing what you are meant to!

Treat the people in your life, your reality and your circumstances for what they are…RESOURCES!... blessings of Allah SWT!

They all built you and shaped you…gave you your present shakal…be on a quest to find out what it means for you and what you are meant to do with your uniqueness.

All this so that on the day of judgement, we have something to show to The ONE and ONLY Judge what we did with our Shakila He gave us…that we prayed and we tried…it’s all we need to do, really…TRY!

The good news is, only Allah and you know your Shakila, so you know what to direct your resources towards and pray to Allah for His guidance and ease in your matters.

The bad news is, only Allah and you know your Shakila, so you’ll have to direct your resources towards it yourself and pray to Allah for His guidance and ease in your matters.

So TRY and EXPLORE!

HAPPY EXPLORING!

Fi Amaan Allah!