July 2nd- Day 2 of Lockdown
Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem,
Journal Entry – Accusations
SubhanAllah, what a test this morning brought. The day began early – 4:10 AM for uniform change, and there I was, standing on the musalla for Fajr, when Dawood approached with his accusation. “Are you high? Your eyes look weird. Did you take something?”
He said it loudly, clearly wanting others to hear, trying to discredit me. My heart felt a moment of heaviness, but Allah guided me to respond with gentleness: “No, just woke up, but thank you for checking on me.” The response seemed to unsettle him – perhaps he expected anger or defensiveness. Following the Prophet’sصلى الله عليه وسلمexample, I added afterward, “Thank you for your concern.”
Kill them with love – that was my strategy, and SubhanAllah, it worked in ways I didn’t expect. When he refused to join for Dhuhr, Allah opened another door of blessing. I was able to pray sunnah before, recite longer surahs during the prayer, and complete more sunnah afterward. What Dawood intended as isolation became a beautiful moment of solitude with Allah.
I see so much anger in him, and strangely, it seems directed solely at me. But ya Allah, let me remember that his behavior likely reflects his own inner struggles rather than anything about me. Let me be patient, let me be kind, let me continue to respond to hostility with love.
And ya Allah, I make this dua – may this not be a reflection of my own little Dawood at home. Protect him, guide him, and let him grow to be a source of light and mercy in this world. Ameen.
Sometimes these walls feel tight, especially during lockdown, but these challenges are opportunities to practice what I preach about patience and mercy. Each harsh word we receive is a chance to respond with kindness, each accusation an opportunity to demonstrate character.
Your brother in faith,
Wisam
