Sh Abdul Hakim Murad says: " The companion before the road, and the road before the destination. But without the destination there is no road, and without the road there is no companion."
I continue my series "Lessons from the road" Life goes on and the wheels of my car keep turning. And so I keep reflecting on how/what I can learn about life from driving.
The best car
The best car isn't the one which is the most expensive. The best car isnt the one which is most economical. Those may be factors to consider but no matter what one drives, the judgement of how good the car is has to be based on where it is going. The best places that you an go to locally on a regular basis is the local masjid. Where are you headed in your life? If your on the highway and someone asked you where you were going, what would you say. " I don't know" or say"just to the next exit and then I'll see". No! Typically you would know where your going.
Other lane better?
Many times one ends up in the wrong lane. Such that the lane slows down to a standstill, such that one feels that one couldn't have made a worse decision in one's lane-choice. While one may learn from the decision ( and may choose differently if given same circumstances in the future), one should not regret being in the lane one is in because Allah has placed you there and that was meant to be. What hit could not have missed and what missed could not have hit.
Many times one ends up in the wrong lane. Such that the lane slows down to a standstill, such that one feels that one couldn't have made a worse decision in one's lane-choice. While one may learn from the decision ( and may choose differently if given same circumstances in the future), one should not regret being in the lane one is in because Allah has placed you there and that was meant to be. What hit could not have missed and what missed could not have hit.
Give room for mistake
We can get too close to cars ahead of us, such that we don't give the person ahead of us a chance to make a mistake. And if h/she does make a mistake then you both may get harmed. Always give those around you, some room for mistakes....
Generalize
Sometimes we see a person ahead of us make a mistake. When and if we get a chance most of us like to see who the driver was. And if it's a woman. We might say "oh women". If its a youngster then " oh these kids". if its a a certain race then we may say " oh that race" I think we should be deeper then that and judge a group of people on more then just one incident.
We can get too close to cars ahead of us, such that we don't give the person ahead of us a chance to make a mistake. And if h/she does make a mistake then you both may get harmed. Always give those around you, some room for mistakes....
Generalize
Sometimes we see a person ahead of us make a mistake. When and if we get a chance most of us like to see who the driver was. And if it's a woman. We might say "oh women". If its a youngster then " oh these kids". if its a a certain race then we may say " oh that race" I think we should be deeper then that and judge a group of people on more then just one incident.
What can you drive
A person with a normal license cannot drive a truck without training. One needs to know that one needs training and also to know whom one can learn form. No matter what the topic is, one has to learn from one's teachers.
A person with a normal license cannot drive a truck without training. One needs to know that one needs training and also to know whom one can learn form. No matter what the topic is, one has to learn from one's teachers.
Needs and aims
If your planning a long road trip you need to know what you need ( how much gas, money, food, time) to get where your going. One needs to know what one needs to get to where one wants to be.
Indicators
If your planning a long road trip you need to know what you need ( how much gas, money, food, time) to get where your going. One needs to know what one needs to get to where one wants to be.
Indicators
If a person in front of us has a left indicator on but does not turn, would you trust them the next time, if they have the same indicator on? If someone indicates something by words but does not practice through deed, how much would you trust them? Can others trust you?
Sabar in traffic jam
You need patience in a traffic jam. You cant force the issue. Again your stuck where your stuck because that was meant to be. now deal with it ( legally). Don't start reversing the car on the shoulder or doing something silly. Same thing in life. Do the best you an but if you get stuck don't start doing something atrocious to get out!
Compete if someone goes ahead of you
Sometimes we pass people on the highway and they increase their speed as you pass them because they don't want to be slower than you. I guess in life, it depends on what your competing for and who you are competing with. Some things are worth competing for and there are others which are not. Make your own call.
Sometimes we pass people on the highway and they increase their speed as you pass them because they don't want to be slower than you. I guess in life, it depends on what your competing for and who you are competing with. Some things are worth competing for and there are others which are not. Make your own call.
Big picture
In the same token, if someone wants to pass you because they want to go faster then you let it be. If its a 2 hour journey, getting there 5 minutes late is not worth your life. Or is it? Keep the big picture in mind so you don't get distracted by things that may not matter.
In the same token, if someone wants to pass you because they want to go faster then you let it be. If its a 2 hour journey, getting there 5 minutes late is not worth your life. Or is it? Keep the big picture in mind so you don't get distracted by things that may not matter.
Leave at right time so get there on right time
If you want to get somewhere at the right time then you have to leave at the right time. So to archive your goal of punctuality you need to seek the means of punctuality.
If you want to get somewhere at the right time then you have to leave at the right time. So to archive your goal of punctuality you need to seek the means of punctuality.
Long journey more provisions
You need more provisions on a longer journey so you don't run out of gas, food, etc. on the way. You need to plan your journey according to it's length.
Best way middle way
On a 3 lane highway, I always find the middle lane the most balanced. One can increase one speed or exit though lanes on either side and one is probably safer too because one avoids the highway entering and highway speeding cars. Islam is the middle way...
When lanes merge make room
Give way to others when 2 lanes are busy and they are merging into one. One leaves one's immediate/personal benefit to let the other through, to keep the traffic flow going. Live and let live.
Decisions you make
At the end of the day, its your car and the decisions you make while driving not only affect you, but also have impact on those around you on the road. Are you willing to face the consequences and responsibility that your decisions entail?
The signs are not the destination
The highway is full of signposts but would we get anywhere if we got hung up on these signposts? The signs of Allah in this world point us to him. Us getting distracted by the signs ( such that we only seek the signs in themselves), is a matter of grave concern.
Ready for the bad times.
You should have a spare tire in your car because, even if you think its unlikely you might get a flat tire. In the same way we should have a reasonable plan for things when they don't go according to plan.
Till it's goneGive way to others when 2 lanes are busy and they are merging into one. One leaves one's immediate/personal benefit to let the other through, to keep the traffic flow going. Live and let live.
Decisions you make
At the end of the day, its your car and the decisions you make while driving not only affect you, but also have impact on those around you on the road. Are you willing to face the consequences and responsibility that your decisions entail?
The signs are not the destination
The highway is full of signposts but would we get anywhere if we got hung up on these signposts? The signs of Allah in this world point us to him. Us getting distracted by the signs ( such that we only seek the signs in themselves), is a matter of grave concern.
Ready for the bad times.
You should have a spare tire in your car because, even if you think its unlikely you might get a flat tire. In the same way we should have a reasonable plan for things when they don't go according to plan.
Have you woken up in the morning, having planned your day, gone to the car and found that it doesn't start. Its only then that you realize what you took for granted. It only then that you realize what you weren't thankful. We should be thankful to Allah and the people around us for what we have because before you know it, it may be gone to never to return. If there is ( next worldly) good in things around us, then we should strive for them.
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